guims' Random Thoughts

Beauty Lesson from the Old Acacia Trees

2014-03-18T07:04:00.002-07:00

Everytime I passed by our dormitory and of our neighborhood, I am always captivated by the towering acacia trees. There were several of them and most are very old. I don’t exactly know how old they are, but the ferns and fungi growing on their stout trunk and limbs are shouting antiquity. During the day, they are a picture of humble grandeur, as their mighty branches stir the cool breeze or their fresh green leaves provide shade to passing people. During the night, they are a picture of relaxed serenity, with their gentle hum and slow sway, and with the corn moon casting its soft glow behind them. Everytime I see them, I just could not help but look up and be mesmerized by them. They inspired me with their simple and quiet beauty. Though unnoticed and unappreciated, they continue to hold their limbs up high.

Rest the rest of the article.

Little Bridge

2014-03-12T07:01:00.001-07:00

Some nights ago, a Facebook friend shared a forty-second video on her account. Though it did not receive that much likes or comments, I still find it worth sharing. The video is about how a big brother helped his little sister cross a small gap (though it appears really wide for their age) on a pavement. Seeing his little sister’s difficulty, the brother laid and stretched himself out over the gap, acting like a bridge for her. It is truly a funny and cute moment, watching these two adorable kids helping out each other. At the same time, it is heart-warming and thought-provoking, teaching us a thing or two about true brotherhood.

Rest the rest of Little Bridge.

Why Do We Forget Our Dreams?

2014-03-09T06:47:00.004-07:00

In the middle of a good night’s sleep, you dream of beautiful things. But sometimes, it would be of terrible things and tragic events. And when you wake up, you find yourself remembering only glimpses of what you have dreamed of….

This scenario is common to everyone. We wake up, forgetting most of our dreams but knowing we have dreamed about this and that and more. No matter how much we push our brain cells, they can only revive small clips of those dreams. So why do we mostly forget our dreams? Is this common?

According to Scientific American (as cited by care2.com), we have five dreams each night on average, totaling 1,825 dreams per year. Of these figure, we forget most of them. For Mark Balgrove, professor of psychology at Swansea University, people differ in their ability to remember dreams. However, if we translate them from short-term to long term memory immediately upon walking, chances are we can really put these dreams to better perspective. In other words, let us try to consolidate the things we remember right after waking up, may be by writing them down, to make sense of these dreams. Accordingly, half of our dreams are forgotten within five minutes of walking, and within ten minutes, 90% is gone.

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Baguio Botanical Garden

2014-03-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

One of the key places to visit when you are in the City of Pines is the beautiful Baguio Botanical Garden. Flowers and plants, massive bargains, temples, and Igorots are some of the highlight of this park.

The Baguio Botanical Garden, also known as the Igorot Village, is located between the Teacher’s Camp and the Pacdal Circle, east of Baguio’s downtown area. It is quite a large and quiet park where you can have a nice time strolling or walking along its winding pathways while enjoy the view of the landscape of diverse plants and trees. If you don’t like to walk, you can simply sit down and relax on the benches scattered around.

Read the rest of this visit to Baguio Botanical Garden.

Movie Review: The Loved Ones

2014-03-07T05:57:00.002-08:00

March is the International Women’s Month, and so for the whole month, let’s look into the movies that highlight the strengths and triumphs of women. Let’s begin with this 2009 Australian comedy horror film which does not only reflect the prowess of a woman, but also the tragedy and brutality that her wrath can bring. Get ready for some mild gore and be up for The Loved Ones.

The Loved Ones begins with a vehicular accident on a road. Brent (played by Xavier Samuel) is driving with his father in the passenger seat. All of a sudden, a bloodied man appears on the middle of the road, and swerving to avoid hitting the man, Brent’s car crashes into a tree.

Six months later, Brent is planning to attend a high school dance with his girlfriend. He has initially refused an invitation to the dance by a girl named Lola Stone (played by Robin McLeavy). Unfortunately, this has become Brent’s big mistake as his refusal triggered a series of merciless violent ploys. The girl’s envy and fury go a notch higher when she sees him and her girl making out on a car.

Read the rest of the review of The Loved Ones.

Heroes, et al.

2014-03-06T06:01:00.002-08:00

Over the recent years, I have been downloading and watching my favorite animated TV series. I already had a complete copy of X-Men: The Animated Series (aired in the early 90’s), Full Metal Alchemist, Mushishi, Hunter X Hunter, Fushigi Yugi, and One Piece (which is my most favorite anime). And just this minute, I found out that Power Rangers celebrated their 20^thanniversary. A Youtube video of several Red Rangers (presumably from different versions of the action show) going around key places in the US is a huge hit in many social media.

I couldn’t help but sigh. I miss these shows so I painstakingly collect them. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology! Just watching these characters which I learned to love brings back memories from my childhood days. Like fighting among friend as to who is better: Wolverine and Cyclops (and why are they fighting over Jean Grey?)... Like dancing to the tunes of “Go, go Power Rangers!”…. Like copying “the moves” of Son Goku, Recca, and Eugene…. Like falling in love for Miaka and her seven warriors…. And before I forget , like picking our favorites among the Street Fighters.

Rest the rest of Heroes, et al.

MSU-GSC Students Rank FIRST and FIFTH in the Recent Agricultural Engineering Board Exam

2012-08-29T06:38:00.001-07:00

Amazingly, our graduates did so well in the recent Licensure Examination for Agricultural Engineering. The result really blew me away. I had so much hope for these people, but they had given me more than what I anticipated.

Yesterday must have been a beautiful omen. Earlier in the morning, as I was travelling to the university from the city, I was following behind a car with plate number PRC 351. That PRC characters excited me, since PRC is the initials for Professional Regulation Commission. So what do 351 mean? Well, later in the day, a student texted me saying that 86% of the first time takers passed the exam. So that’s it, 351 (3+5=8, and 5+1=6)!

Not only was the passing percentage was great, we have two topnotchers! Ely Jun Pates ranked FIRST! Another one, Rowen Lacanaria, bagged the FIFTH place! Isn’t that exemplary? Ely was a “home-grown” Agricultural Engineering student, while Rowen was a shifter from another course (Electrical Engineering). It was redemption for Rowen and his colleagues, implying that anyone can really succeed despite past painful struggles. And for Ely, he simply upheld our course and profession, giving much honor to the university and to our department.

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Ten Deadly Effects of Drinking Alcohol

2012-07-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

In parties, feasts, meetings, celebration, and almost in every gathering, we drink. Beer. Wine. Rum. Gin. Vodka. Others. All these drink have two things in common – alcohol and danger.

Drinking may be a social skill that everyone is meant to learn. But such thing has limitations and demands responsibility. It may have advantages to our body, but it also has utmost consequences when exploited. Worse, damage may be irreversible. So what are the dangers of drinking? What does long-term drinking do to our body, mind and well-being? How bad are its effects? Here are ten fatal consequences of over drinking alcohol:

1. Cardiovascular system. Alcohol can cause high blood pressure (hypertension) increasing the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It also weakens heart muscles, which can affect lungs, liver, brain and other body systems and can cause heart failure. In the long run, it can cause the heart to have irregular beating (arrhythmia) and lead to death.

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Pine Meadow Golf Review & PineMeadowGolf.com Coupons

2012-07-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

Pinemeadow Golf is a factory direct Golf Club manufacturer and distributor. They produce high-quality golf clubs that play and look similar to top brand golf clubs but at much lower prices. They specialize in custom-built golf clubs appropriate to anybody’s age, gender, skill level, and even speed of swing. Some of their popular golf club styles are:

Command
DoubleWall
Pinemeadow Excel
PRE
Yukon
ZR1
Belly Putters

In the company’s website, one can shop by category and by golfer. Furthermore, the company also offers a wide range of accessories and apparel to help their customers enjoy the game to the fullest. On top of everything, they provide competitive prices to most of their products.

Pinemeadow Golf has been on business since 1985. Their home base is Portland, Oregon, but this online retailer now caters to golf enthusiasts across the globe, thanks to the ease of Internet shopping. The staff of this company is comprised of avid golfers from all skill levels and walks of life, who are committed to providing customers with the ability to enjoy the sport of golf to the fullest. Currently, the company is one of the leading custom fitting golf producers. Undoubtedly, Pinemeadow Golf is a top and wise choice for golfers and golf enthusiasts.

Read the rest of the product review.

Only in the Philippines: Unique Modes of Transportation

2012-07-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

The Philippines has a diverse culture. It has successfully infused history and modernism, as well as rural and urbanized living. In terms of transportation, the country has several options to offer. Many of these vehicles are for public transport and can offer services for several passengers. Amazingly, these modes of transportation are only found in the Philippines. Here are some unique transport vehicles in the Philippines:

Jeepney

Jeepneys are the kings of the road. They are the most common mode of transportation in the whole country, dominating every highways and corners. They are very flashy and colorful, with attractive decorations and signage. The most famous decors would be the two horses in front of it. Some jeepneys also have funny and hilarious quotes painted on its body, like “Basta driver, sweet lover” (A driver is a sweet lover), “No guts, no glory”, “God knows Hudas not pay”, “Basta sexy libre, basta buntis doble” (If you are sexy, you are free; but if you are pregnant, you pay double), and many others.

Jeepneys are also inexpensive way to go around the different places in the Philippines, with fares as low as eight pesos ($0.18). Usually, the jeepneys must be filled before travelling, carrying 16-20 passengers excluding the driver. Some even have “extensions” – a plank of wood placed on its open door – that can support 2-3 people.

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Chaparral Motorsport Review & ChaparralMotorsports.com Coupons

2012-07-01T04:44:00.001-07:00

Chaparral Motorsports is a dealer of motorcycle and motor scooters, as well as watercraft and all terrain vehicles including related parts and accessories. Specifically, they offer motorcycles, scooters, ATV (all terrain vehicles), UTV (utility vehicles), dirt bikes, street bikes, cruisers, helmet and riding gears, tires, vehicle parts (e.g. brakes, engine, exhaust, controls, handlebars, windshields, seats, chassis, fuel systems, intake, and frames), riding clothes, bags and luggage, related DVDs, riding accessories (e.g. cameras, drink system, communication systems), sunglasses, jackets, hats, and other accessories. Their items are genuine products from brands like Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.

Chaparral Motorsports also offers the best prices for their products, even on new items. They give exclusive offers, great discounts and coupons, and updates on the latest motorcycles and bikes on the market to their avid customers and subscribers. Since 1980, the company has provided unparallel customer service for those looking to customize their dirt bikes, ATV's, street bikes and cruisers. Based on San Bernardino, California, Chaparral Motorsports is now one of the top distributors and dealers of motorcycle products.

Read the rest of the product review.

Timothy Bradley Wins a Controversial Fight Against Manny Pacquiao

2012-06-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Much to everyone’s surprise, Timothy Bradley wins over Manny Pacquiao by split decision. This was really a stunning surprise, sending shock waves from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas out to the rest of the world.

From this match, Bradley has improved his records to 29-0 and snatched the WBO welterweight title from Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2). Two judges gave a score of 115-113 for Bradley, and the other was 115-113 for Pacquiao.

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AJ Richies 2012 Review & AJRichies.com Coupons

2012-06-06T06:06:00.000-07:00

AjRichies is a retail store of the latest consumer electronics such as digital cameras, camcorders, blu-ray and DVD players, headphones, speakers, amplifiers, tuners, microphones, turntables for audio and video equipment, television sets, projectors, home theater systems, and accessories like batteries, binoculars, card readers, carrying cases, chargers, cleaning kits, memory cards, printer cables, screen protectors, tapes, tripods, lens, remote controls and many others. They provide products from some of the best brands like Panasonic, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, and Sony. Their prices are very competitive, much lower than those offered by most retail stores online.

AjRichies aims to make customers feel confident, comfortable and happy with their purchase through professional and friendly staffs, quick shipping times, and easy return policy. With over 15 years of experience, AjRichies has become one of the online electronic retail stores patronized by many people.

Read the rest of the product review.

Ten Benefits of Laughter

2012-06-01T05:51:00.000-07:00

It is an innate human thing to laugh. We laugh at jokes, no matter how simple or crazy they are, mistakes, funny accidents, and even at people. We laugh because certain stimuli trigger us to do so. But more than just being a natural reflex, laughter also have a number of benefits to the body, personality and general well-being of a person. Here are ten amazing benefits of laughter:

1. Laughter suppresses negative emotions like depression, anger, grief, hate, anxiety, and stress. It lowers inhibitions, allowing the release of best-kept feelings. It also reduces certain stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. After a good laugh, one can feel a sense of freedom and well-being. As they say, if you can laugh at it, you can live with it. Besides, laughter brings the focus away from negative feelings in a more beneficial way than other distractions.

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Case Crown Review & CaseCrown.com Coupon

2012-05-28T05:11:00.000-07:00

CaseCrown is a company dedicated to producing durable, trendy and stylish cases and covers for a variety of electronic gadgets like iPhone 4/4S, iPad, iPad 2, iPod touch 3, iPod touch 4, iPhone 3G, tablets, cameras, ebook readers, laptops, netbooks, and many other electronics. They also have a unique collection of colorful and stunning covers called Kindle Fire fit for many kinds of gadgets. Products from CaseCrown are satisfaction-guaranteed, providing maximum protection to equipment with amazing design and workmanship, and giving customers an unparalleled experience regardless of age, sex, profession and passion. For those who are on budget, CaseCrown is an excellent choice for their prices are reasonable and competitive.

Founded in Southern California by computer gadget lovers, CaseCrown has extended influence throughout the rest of the world. With their unmatched products at wonderful prices, CaseCrown has captured the hearts of geeks, techies, and users.

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American Idol Runners-up

2012-05-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

American Idol Season 11 has finally come to the end. It was a season full of shocking moments and drama as many favorites were ousted from the competition. The final two were Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez. Many were dismayed with the results as power belter Jessica did not get the title. But as many says, the title does not guarantee great success in the music world. So how many runners-up in the competition are now respected singers? Here is a run-down of the runners-up in the eleven seasons of American Idol.

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CJ Renato Corona and Jessica Sanchez: Who Will Win the Votes?

2012-05-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

Today, two names are the words of mouth of everyone, not only of the Generals but also of the whole Filipino nation. And these two names are…. CJ Renato Corona and Jessica Sanchez. Both must face life-changing directions. One road might lead to downfall, the other to stardom….

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Sarangani Bay Festival '12: The Shores of Gumasa

2012-05-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Today, I and my friends got to visit Gumasa, Glan and celebrate the Sarangani Bay Festival ’12. The festival already started yesterday, but time is a luxury and so we settled to hit the resorts today. We left the city kind of late (but already ahead of our schedule) and arrived at Gumasa by half past nine.

By the way, these are my friends back in high school and through all this time, we remained to be really good friends. We were actually seven in the group, but two are already out of the country while the other one is not available due to prior commitment. So only the four of us got to enjoy the day.

Click here to read full article.

Ten Mother's Day Treats

2012-05-12T20:21:00.001-07:00

For most countries, the second Sunday of the month of May is the Mother’s Day celebration. On this special day, people honor their mothers and celebrate motherhood. As they say, “the mother is the light of the house” and her influence to her family and to the society is all-important and crucial.

On this special day, maybe it’s the son’s or daughter’s time to bring “light” to their mother’s face. So what are the perfect gifts to our dear mothers? What are some simple and heart-warming treats for her? Here are ten of them:

1. A hearty breakfast. Eversince we are young, we often wake up with all our food already set on our table. And that thanks to our mother. Maybe on this special day, let’s take our turn in preparing the breakfast for her. Add special elements to the meal like a fragrant green tea, a baguette with strawberry or plum jam, a soft chocolate or a creamy soup.

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Jeremy Smith's Motour Trip and Hope Flows

2012-05-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

“It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

This is the newest slogan of the country’s tourism campaign. But a foreigner has seen more than fun in the Philippines, but also hope and giving. So for Jeremy Smith, the Filipino nation is a face of happiness and optimism, that despite all the difficulties and lack, there are always reasons to celebrate life.

Jeremy Smith is a 22-year old guy from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Back in 2010, he sold his construction business and then purchased a ticket to Singapore. In 2011, he came to the Philippines on vacation and instantly fell in love with the people.

In his bus ride to Masbate, he saw kids carrying what he thought were gas cans, only to find out that they were really delivering water. That scene touched him and he witnessed the same thing in Tacloban a week later.

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Ten Deadly Effects of Sleep Deprivation

2012-03-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

These last few days had been very exhausting for me. It is the start of the semester and loads of paper works and student queries must be attended to. At night, I must work on my online activities. It is always past midnight, around one or two, that I sleep. And by six, I must be up and get ready for school… This is not my normal routine and getting four to five hours of sleep worries me. I might acquire permanent sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation, which may be acute or chronic, is the condition of not having enough sleep. I search for the social and health effects of sleep deprivation and I was dumbstruck by how fatal it can be. Well, here are the ten deadly effects of sleep deprivation:

1. Extreme exhaustion. In slang terms, you are super tired. This is the first direct effect of sleep deprivation. This is not the usual tiring feeling, but you are highly lethargic that you would not want to do anything. You lack enough energy that eventually affects your efficiency and productivity. Individuals who have not received sufficient sleep will feel sluggish and uninspired to work.

2. Impaired coordination. A lack of sleep is often associated with a hindrance of bodily control. Tired individuals often feel enhanced physical impulses; yet, actions are uncoordinated and responses are slow and untimed. The negative effects of sleep deprivation on alertness and cognitive performance suggest decreases in brain activity and function, primarily in the thalamus – the structure involved in alertness and attention – and in the prefrontal cortex, a region sub-serving alertness, attention, and higher-order cognitive processes.

Sleep-deprived individuals also experience extreme emotions and mood swings. A very tired person who is laughing uncontrollably at one moment may be crying or yelling angrily a few minutes later.

3. Microsleep. This is one of the most dangerous immediate effects of sleep deprivation. In this condition, the brain suddenly shuts down and the person falls into sleep for a period of a second to about half a minute. The sad fact is that the person falls asleep no matter activity he or she is engaged in. Just imagine yourself in this condition and how discomforting it is to you and distracting to others. Microsleep is similar to blackout, and a person experiencing it is not consciously aware that it is occurring.

4. Attention and working memory. If you are sleep-deprived, your attention is also affected as well as your working memory. You tend to be easily confused, have lapses in judgment, lose focus and easily forget things. You may miss a schedule, forget where you put things, and as much as forget what you have just said. Worse, sleep-deprived individuals may believe that they are able to perform tasks that require constant attention when their abilities are in fact impaired.

5. Weight changes. Sleep deprivation either increases or reduces weight, but more on the former. This is because the amount and quality of sleep affects hormone levels, particularly levels of leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is a hormone that affects feelings of fullness and satisfaction after a meal, while ghrelin is a hormone that stimulates appetite. When people suffer from sleep deprivation, levels of leptin fall and ghrelin levels increase. This means that people end up feeling hungrier and may be less satisfied by eating, causing them to eat more and, consequently, gain weight. Other physiological processes are affected by these hormone levels and this relationship further complicates the connection between sleep and health.

6. Impaired performance. A 2006 study has shown that while total sleep deprivation for one night caused many errors, the errors were not significant until after the second night of total sleep deprivation. In addition, another study showed that performance starts to degrade after 16 hours of being awake. With sleep deprivation, expect a negative impact on the performance in professional field or workplace. In younger ages, it also has significant effects. Studies have shown that adolescents who experience less sleep show a decreased willingness to engage in sports and other activities requiring motor skills and coordination, and attention to details. Another effect is that it causes a range of schooling problems, including naughtiness and poor concentration.

7. Mental illnesses. In 2001, a research at Chicago Medical Institute showed that sleep deprivation can be associated with psychosis, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses. In 2007, the association between sleep deprivation and psychosis was further documented by a study at Harvard Medical School and the University of California at Berkeley. MRI scan revealed that “sleep deprivation causes the brain to become incapable of putting an emotional event into the proper perspective and incapable of making a controlled, suitable response to the event”. Furthermore, great sleep deprivation mimics psychosis: distorted perceptions can lead to inappropriate emotional and behavioral responses.

8. Accidents. Many vehicular accidents have been attributed to sleep deprivation. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), one in every five serious motor vehicle injuries is linked to driver fatigue. Every day, around 80,000 drivers fall asleep behind the wheel; every year, around 250,000 accidents are related to sleep. The AASM recommends pulling off the road and taking a 15- or 20-minute nap to alleviate drowsiness. Moreover, the National Sleep Foundation (USA) identifies several warning signs that a driver is dangerously fatigued, including rolling down the window, turning up the radio, trouble keeping eyes open, head-nodding, drifting out of the lane, and daydreaming.

In 2000, a study conducted in Australia and New Zealand reported that being sleep-deprived is as good as being drunk for they lead to the same deadly effects. People who drove after being awake for 17–19 hours performed worse than those with a blood alcohol level of .05 percent, which is the legal limit for drunk driving in most western European countries and Australia. Hence, driving after long hours of no-sleep activity could be just as dangerous as drunk-driving.

A plane crash in 2009 at Buffalo, New York was partly attributed to pilot fatigue. The accident had cost 50 lives.

9. Diabetes. A 2005 study of 1400 participants have shown that people who sleep for fewer hours are more likely to have associations with type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes results when cells fail to use insulin property (while type 1 is the condition when body fails to produce insulin). Moreover, the researcher also pointed out that “experimental rather than habitual restriction of sleep resulted in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)”.

10. Risk to the immune system and heart. Lacking enough hours of sleep significantly impairs anybody’s immune system. In effect, the individual readily gets ill. Sleep deprivation is also linked to increase blood pressure and hypertension. Consequently, it puts anyone to the risk of contacting heart diseases.

Other effects. Other conditions which are associated with sleep deprivation are: hernia, muscle fascia tears, muscle pains, hallucinations, depression, hand tremors, headaches, sensitivity to cold and bloodshot eyes. Hong Kong University researchers recently found that sleep deprivation may lead to ulcers and even cancer.

Sources:

Sleeptracks.org

Wikipedia: Sleep Deprivation

Sleepdeprivation-effects.com

Hotfacts.com

Merrell Review & Merrell.com Coupon (Hiking Shoes Reviews)

2012-03-08T07:49:00.000-08:00

Merrell is one of the most popular brand names of excellent and top quality footwear. The company is best known for its outdoor shoes and boots. Specifically, footwear products from Merrell are water, barefoot, slip ons, casual and multi-sport shoes, sandals, and hiking and cold weather boots. Other than footwear, Merrell also offers a variety of clothing items and apparels like shirts and tees, shorts and capris, pants, dresses and skirts, socks, bags, hats, scarves, gloves and insoles. They have products for both men and women, and even for kids.

The company is founded by Clark Matis, John Schweitzer, and Randy Merrell in 1981 with the dream of creating high-performance hiking boots. Its first product, the Randy Merrell’s Boots, had become an instant success that the Backpack Magazine named them “the most comfortable and functional boots in North America.” In 1997, Merrell is sold to Wolverine World Wide, a giant footwear corporation which manufactures Hush Puppies shoes and Wolverine brand boots. Since then, they had provided sport fanatics, hikers and climbers, outdoor enthusiasts, and casual users durable and top-quality footwear products.

Merrell products are currently sold in more than 150 countries, with at least 120 concept stores around the world. Undoubtedly, Merrell has become a trusted brand and a household name.

Read full review of Merrell Shoes at Factoidz.

Ten Benefits of Kissing

2012-02-29T05:38:00.000-08:00

Albert Einstein said that “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.” Forget about disease transmission, for a kiss is truly a pleasurable thing and Einstein has to say that it is special. But it is more than that; kissing has several benefits, especially to the health and well-being of a person. Here are ten benefits of kissing (specifically a kiss between lovers):

1. Kissing burns calories. Not that kissing is the ultimate fat-burning activity! But kissing can burn as much as 2 to 6 calories a minute. It may not be much, but two hours of continuous kissing can burn calories equivalent to one pound steak. It can also double your metabolic rate. Research claims that three passionate kisses a day (at least lasting 20 seconds each) will cause you to lose an entire extra pound! It's time to start that kissing diet!

2. Kissing tones the face and strengthens facial muscles. You use 30 muscles while kissing and the smooching helps keep the checks tight, preventing them from being baggy and loose. A torrid French kiss exercises all the underlying muscles of the face. The tension in the muscles caused by a passionate kiss helps smooth the skin and increases the circulation.

3. Kissing is a known stress-reliever. Passionate kissing relieves tension, reduces negative energy and produces a sense of well being, lowering your cortisol “stress” hormone. Kissing is also like meditation. "Kissing is an exciting excursion into the sensual," says psychologist and clinical sexologist Joy Davidson. "If we happen to be connecting with someone we care about, it produces a sense of well-being and a kind of full-bodied pleasure." Hence, a kiss can suppress anxiety and produce physiological changes that meditation can do.

4. Kissing is also good for the heart, as it creates an adrenaline which causes your heart to pump more blood around your body. Frequent kissing has scientifically been proven to stabilize cardiovascular activity, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol.

5. Kissing is relaxing. According to scientists, kissing can increase the oxytocin and endorphin levels. Oxytocin is the body’s natural calming chemical while endorphin is the fell-good chemical. The endorphins produced by kissing are 200 times more powerful than morphine. Swapping spit is also noted to increase dopamine, which aids in feelings of romantic attachment.

6. Kissing helps flush out bacteria. During kissing, the extra saliva washes bacteria off the teeth, consequently helping break down oral plaque. This means kissing can help prevent tooth decay and cavities. During a kiss, natural antibiotics are also secreted in the saliva. Furthermore, the saliva contains a type of anesthetic that helps relieve pain.

7. Kissing boosts immunity. All that swapping spit exchanges germs, too, which forces your body to produce antibodies to prevent you from getting sick. It's like getting a vaccination, so keep the kisses coming in order to keep you healthy.

According to the study by the journal Medical Hypotheses, kissing can increase women’s immunity from Cytomegalovirus. This virus is transmitted through mouth to mouth contract and can cause infant blindness and other birth defects if the mother is a carrier during pregnancy. However, it is relatively harmless for adults. Thus, kissing can be a way to pass along bugs, thereby strengthening the body’s defenses.

8. Kissing is a “mate assessment tool” as described by anthropologist Helen Fisher. The most sensitive feelings can be picked up by the lips, cheeks, tongue and nose. Out of 12 cranial nerves, five of them are picking up information from around the mouth. Thus, you can really hear, see and feel the person you are kissing. Kissing is not anymore just a “kissing” activity, but more of an expression of who you are, what you want and what you can give.

Moreover, kissing has been viewed by many researchers as biology’s way of determining which people are most compatible with genetically. “At the moment of the kiss, there are hard-wired mechanisms that assess health, reproductive status and genetic compatibility,” says Gordon G. Gallup Jr., a professor of evolutionary psychology at the State University of New York at Albany. “Therefore, what happens during that first kiss can be a make-or-break proposition.”

9. Kissing can relieve allergies. In a research conducted in Japan, it has been shown that kissing can lower down the body’s allergic reaction to pollen. "What they did was study the blood levels of IgE, an allergy antibody before and after 30 minutes of kissing their partner," Dr. Lynda Kabbash of Harvard Vanguard said.

Researchers say kissing also helped relieve symptoms in patients with dermatitis, a skin condition triggered by allergies.

10. Kissing keeps you younger. This is an after effect of exercising your facial muscles and toning them through kissing. The relaxing effect of kissing can also help fight out stress and you will remain happy and younger-looking. Likewise, kissing improves self-esteem. It makes you feel appreciated and helps your state of mind.

References:

Webmd.com

Yourtango.com

Whdh.com

Follow this article at Factoidz.

Paul’s TV Review & PaulsTV.com Coupon

2012-02-13T05:28:00.000-08:00

Paul’s TV is one of the world’s leading retail stores of television sets. The company features consumer electronics, televisions, home and office entertainment audio and video systems, video recording devices, entertainment consoles, furniture and consumer electronic accessories. Tagged as “The King of Big Screen”, Paul’s TV has the greatest selection of Big Screen and HDTV’s anywhere. They offer the latest television technology and models from top brands like LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Westinghouse, and many others. They also offer television-related items like video players, speakers, amplifiers, home theater systems, stands, and accessories.

Paul’s TV was founded in 1964 as a small TV and appliance store in La Habra, California. In 1978, Big Screen TV was introduced and the company hit big time by specializing in television products. More than 46 years after, Paul’s TV has now several locations across the United States, specifically in Colorado, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Michigan, and California.

With their highly-competitive product selection and prices, Paul’s TV has been patronized not only in USA but also globally.

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How to Deal with Bullies at Work

2012-01-17T03:55:00.000-08:00

Bullies are everywhere. Not only kids at school or in the neighborhood are prone to bullying. Adults also have to face the torments of being bullied by other adults, especially at work. Workplace bullies talk about people oftentimes, takes fun in criticizing others, and even stealing credits for works they do not do. In effect, coworkers feel intimated and dreaded coming to work.

According to surveys, bosses comprise 72% of bullies. Around 62% of employers ignore the problem while 40% of victims never tell their employer. These are very disheartening figures since bullying is truly a grave social crime. But how do we deal with bullies in our workplace? What will be our best line of defense against them? Here are some points to consider in coping up with bullies at work.

Do not tolerate bullies. Set limits to your working relationship with the bullies. Once you have set the limits, you can well determine when to tell the bullies to stop the behavior. Fighting and standing for your right will not entirely shy the bullies away; yet, you have informed them loud and clear that you are not someone to be messed with.

Fight back. Confront them in cool and “sarcastic” ways. Never be intimated with bullies. Remember that they are the types who think they were on solid ground; but once you shake their footing, they tumble as well. If they criticize you, do not criticize them back since this can only be troublesome. Instead, let them talk and ask them for their “wise” judgment. Their incessant talk will only make fools of them.

Do your best in your job. Bullies normally attack those you are weak and are not performing well. Even simple mistakes and slight inefficiencies will not escape the bullies’ senses. Avoid being late to work, taking long breaks, and the like since they will only give justifications to their bullying. Likewise, to avoid being the target, excel in your undertakings so that the bullies will be ashamed to make fun of you.

Build a strong support network. It is difficult to deal with bullies alone. Instead of sulking in a corner after being bullied, rise up and fix your feet on the ground. Do not directly fight the bullies. Work on building you relationships with you colleagues so that you have a support group. This will also prevent the unlucky situation that the bully will turn your coworkers against you.

Keep a record. Document everything that the bullies have done to you. Keep it secure, whether you record it on your personal computer or notebook. Write what has been done and who witness it. So when matters got worse, you can have concrete records to show to the Human Resources office and to the proper authorities about the bullying done.

Do not expect to change the bully. We all have our sets of values and it would take time to change them. A bully has lived with his or her behaviors, and we have no control over their willingness to accept the problem and to change. It is really your employer’s responsibility to be observant, responsive, and vigilant to the general working environment. Somehow, you can do your best to manage the situation and mitigate the problem by avoiding confrontations and being subject of bullying. If there were no one to be bullied around, then there would be no bullies.

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