99PercentCaffeine

Alexis Bledel

I would give up an appendage to meet and do her.

Formula One, Favorite places to eat, cars, and whether or not Dennis Rodman is an alien.

This is why I hardly go out on dates. Ladies do not like to talk about any of these things.

You intentionally dropped it? Wow. You must be filthy rich.

Hell no. Im just crazy.

Sorry for the typos. Edited version...

Why the Church Should Stay Out of It

There is no doubt that the church would be up in arms about instituting Sex Ed in Philippine school systems. It is almost funny to think that the Church has no compunction citing Article 2 Section 6 of the Philippine Constitution when it suits its purposes, while completely ignoring it when it is accused of practices that are nothing short of meddlesome if not completely out of line. Just as the government cannot interfere in the manner by which the Catholic Church approach the issue of sex when addressing its congregates, the Church has no right to tell the government or BLAME it in any way, shape, or form, for the increase in unwanted pregnancies, cases of STDs, and illegal abortions.

The Church has the obligation to care for its flock's spiritual well being ONLY. The entire institution of Catholicism as well as its clergy gladly climbed their high horse claiming to have moral ascendancy over its subjects. As such, it should leave public policy to those who have been duly chosen by the electorate to perform their duty to the public, including but not limited to:

-Providing vital information for anyone who wishes to access it

-Allowing for free speech regarding their opinions on sex and how it affects persons, families, and societies.

-Allocating sufficient funds that would ensure the free flow of FACTUAL and SCIENTIFIC information.

When people succumb to their baser instincts, they become animals. HUMAN INSTINCTS are hardwired for the specific purpose of protecting human beings and ensuring the continuity of the species. There is a lot to be said about the sanctity of life and what it truly means. However, if we now live in a society where the QUALITY of life is no longer a priority, then perhaps sex education is indeed a moot point. Then again, I believe that there are still a few Filipinos who are smart enough to know that knowing is always better than being in the dark. For these people and their children, having the option of learning about sex in a manner that presents all facts without fear of censure or embarrassment, is paramount and denying them of such option is tantamount to depriving them of their right to live the good life.

Relevant Statistics

Let's face it. The Philippine Government cannot be trusted to keep up with current statistics. Be it the total cases of illegal abortions, teenage pregnancies, or deaths (of both mothers and infants) resulting from complications due to undetected birth defects, the government is ill equipped to keep records straight. So there is no definitive and irrefutable evidence that the cases of rape/unwanted pregnancies, and other problems that supposedly have arisen due to the RH BILL or the PROSPECT of Sex Ed are all due to the government's initiative.

Children will always be curious. That is how they learn. There is no helping this unless someone figures out a way to rewire the human brain during its infancy. The fact of the matter is, children will be curious about sex at some point. De-mystifying the subject may not guarantee excellent or favorable results at all times, but it is a hell of a lot better than leaving children in the dark just so parents can stick their heads in the sand longer. Pretending there is no problem is never a viable solution. It did not work when the Nazis invaded Poland and it will not work with our problem now.

Educating the Educators

You cannot teach what you do not know. When duly elected legislators finally get their act together, they should put safeguards so that children are taught only by competent teachers. Sex Education entails a remarkable sense of responsibility and not every teacher has the right mindset nor temperament for it. Comprehensive training as a sex educator must be a pre-requisite for anyone who wish to become a designated mentor in this subject matter. In order to eliminate (or at least diminish) the possibility of impropriety, whether deliberate or inadvertent, female students are to be taught by female teachers and male teachers are to be in charge of the boys.

Should there be any type of inappropriate behavior by teachers during sex ed classes, whether through declarations, judgement, or actions, the offenders must be investigated post-haste and, if found guilty, should be stripped of their license and thrown in jail for no less than 20 years. Teachers are the surrogate parents when children are at school and those who do not understand this or abide by the implied and explicit responsibilities must not be allowed to remain as educators.

Teachers are human beings too and as such they have their own misgivings, pre-conceived notions, and erroneous assumptions about sex. Some of them are even intractable. Comprehensive training would weed out those who are not up for the job.

TBC....

Sex Education in the Philippines- The Good, the Bad, and the Really Ugly

 

 

 

 

 

In a predominantly Catholic country, it is a safe assumption to make that citizens are not as open minded about sex as well as any and all of its nuances. It also follows that children are not able to access information on the subject until they become old enough to use resources such as the internet and printed publications.

 

 

 

 

 

Given the present statistics on teenage pregnancy, illegal abortions, and adultery, it is no longer a question of whether or not Sex Education is necessary. In most cases, information is a tool used to formulate opinions and decisions. In the case of sex education, information is the most effective means of sparing youngsters from the perils of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and emotional distress.

 

 

 

 

 

Why is Sex Education So Controversial?

 

 

 

While the Catholic Church is the sector most adamant against instituting sex ed classes in Philippine schools, it is not the only hindrance to taking a step forward. The conservative nature of Filipinos is the most serious hurdle that makes it nearly impossible to pave the way for the effective and purposeful approach to sex education. For a country that still frowns upon pre-marital cohabitation, homosexuality, and divorce, it is not at all surprising that people remain intransigent about the prospect of teaching children about sexual intercourse as well as the responsibilities that come with the act.

 

 

 

Most parents do not allow their children to refer to their sexual organs with anatomical specificity, let alone openly tell them the truth about the birds and the bees Some parents go so far as imposing punishment on their children if/when they ask about sex, which can cause emotional trauma resulting to an aversion towards discussing the merits as well as perils of the act.

 

 

 

 

 

Context

 

Any subject matter taught in public as well as private school systems need to be within the proper context. In this case, sex education must be limited to facts surrounding the biological as well as emotional aspect of the act. The goal of sex education is not to expose children to proclivities or predilections, but allow them to fully understand what the human body goes through when a person engages in intercourse.

 

One of the misconceptions people have about sex ed is that it would essentially be a how-to guide for the enjoyment of sexual intercourse. It must be made clear that Sex ed will be approached using extreme caution and with utmost regard to boundaries. There are certain things children SHOULD NOT know at their young age, i.e. how to properly fellate a guy or how to render the best cunnilingus.

 

 

 

Coverage

 

So what should children really learn from sex education? Such course should include the following subject matters:

 

1. The physiological effects of sex in a man's and woman's body

 

2. The purpose of sex (procreation, above everything else)****

 

3. Safety requirements when engaging in sex (condoms for men, effective birth control for women)

 

4. Potential health threats when engaging in unsafe sex (immediate and long term effects of contracting STDs, types of STDs)

 

5. Premarital sex (why is it frowned upon, is it really a bad idea, why do people engage in premarital relations)

 

 

 

Balancing Act

 

An effective Sex Ed program is one that respects and regards the emotional as well as intellectual maturity of children in relation to the type of information they are provided. In my opinion, sex ed should be provided to students in the 6th grade and higher. Providing information that cannot be properly processed, imbibed, and retained will effectively be an exercise in futility.

 

Educators must ensure that the students are capable of understanding the facts, for which they need to use their discretion.

 

 

 

Getting Rid of Judgmental/ Preconceived Notions

 

Parents do tend to shield their children from certain aspects of life, especially those deemed immoral or inappropriate. As a result, kids go out into the world completely clueless, much like chickens running around with their heads cut off. In their attempt to keep their children's minds "pristine" and "innocent", parents inadvertently raise young men and women who have absolutely no idea what's waiting for them in the real world. If it is protection that parents want for their children, they have to be willing to concede a small amount of authority if only to ensure that the next generation does not lose its innocence too soon.

 

Sex education should be geared towards getting rid of erroneous views about sex and the preconceived notion that prevents people, both young and old, from appreciating its beauty as well as the responsibilities that come with it.

 

 

 

Homosexuality and Discrimination

 

While Filipinos like to pretend to be tolerant and accepting, it is a fairly obvious fact that homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgenders remain marginalized and discriminated against. The important corollary to the necessity of sex education is that children also have to understand the nature of homosexuality (as well as other sexual preferences) and why it is important to treat everyone with respect regardless of their sexual preferences.

 

Children need to learn that there is no place for bigotry in this day and age.

 

 

 

TBC....

 

 

 

 

 

****subject to debate and discussion among students once they reach the age of consent (16 y.o. as far as I know. Please correct me if I am wrong)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued.....

Why the Church Should Stay Out of It

There is no doubt that the church would be up in arms about instituting Sex Ed in Philippine school systems. It is almost funny to think that the Church has no compunction citing Article 2 Section 6 of the Philippine Constitution when it suits its purposes, while completely ignoring it when it is accused of practices that are nothing short of meddlesome if not completely out of line. Just as the government cannot interfere in the manner by which the Catholic Church approach the issue of sex when addressing its congregates, the Church has no right to tell the government or BLAME it in any way, shape, or form, for the increase in unwanted pregnancies, cases of STDs, and illegal abortions.

The Church has the obligation to care for its flock's spiritual well being ONLY. The entire institution of Catholicism as well as its clergy gladly climbed their high horse claiming to have moral ascendancy over its subjects. As such, it should leave public policy to those who have been duly chosen by the electorate to perform their duty to the public, including but not limited to:

-Providing vital information for anyone who wishes to access it

-Allowing for free speech regarding their opinions on sex and how it affects persons, families, and societies.

-Allocating sufficient funds that would ensure the free flow of FACTUAL and SCIENTIFIC information.

When people are succumb to their baser instincts, they become animals. HUMAN INSTINCTS are hardwired for the specific purpose of protecting human beings and ensuring the continuity of the species. There is a lot to be said about the sanctity of life and what it truly means. However, if we now live in a society where the QUALITY of life is no longer a priority, then perhaps sex education is indeed a moot point. Then again, I believe that there are still a few Filipinos who are smart enough to know that knowing is always better than being in the dark. For these people and their children, having the option of learning about sex in a manner that presents all facts without fear of censure or embarrassment, is paramount and denying them of such option is tantamount to depriving them of their right to live the good life.

Relevant Statistics

Let's face it. The Philippine Government cannot be trusted to keep up with current statistics. Be it the total cases of illegal abortions, teenage pregnancies, or deaths (of both mothers and infants) resulting fron complications due to undetected birth defects, the government is ill equipped to keep records straight. So there is no definitive and irrefutable evidence that the cases of rape/unwanted pregnancies, and other problems that supposedly have arisen due to the RH BILL or the PROSPECT of Sex Ed are all due to the government's initiative.

Children will always be curious. That is how they learn. There is no helping this unless someone figures out a way to rewire the human brain during its infancy. The fact of the matter is, children will be curious about sex at some point. De-mystifying the subject may not guarantee excellent results, but it is a hell of a lot better than leaving children in the dark just so parents can stick their heads in the sand longer. Pretending there is no problem is never a viable solution. It did not work when the Nazis invaded Poland and it will not work with our problem now.

Educating the Educators

You cannot teach what you do not know. When duly elected legislators finally get their act together, they should put safeguards so that children are taught only be competent teachers. Sex Education entails a remarkable sense of responsibility and not every teacher has the right mindset nor temperament for it. Comprehensive training as a sex educator must be a pre-requisite for anyone who wish to become a designated mentor for this subject matter. In order to eliminate (or at least diminish) the possibility of impropriety, whether deliberate or inadvertent, female students are to be taught by female teachers and male teachers are to be in charge of the boys.

Should there be any type of inappropriate behavior by teachers during sex ed classes, whether through declarations, judgement, or actions, the offenders must be investigated post-haste and if found guilty should be stripped of their license and thrown in jail for no less than 20 years/ Teachers are the surrogate parents when children are at school and those who do not understand this or abide by the implied and explicit responsibilities must not be allowed to remain as educators.

Teachers are human beings too and as such they have their own misgivings, pre-conceived notions, and erroneous assumptions about sex. Some of them are even intractable. Comprehensive training would weed out those who are not up for the job.

TBC....?

I can never get past the 8th chapter of Bag of Bones by Stephen King

and The Testament by John Grisham has been gather dust by my night stand.

It has been nearly a decade (and hundreds of books read) since I picked up and started reading these two books but I cannot for the life of me seem to finish.

The authors are certainly not at fault. I have read one or two Stephen King novels that really bore me to death and Bag of Bones definitely makes for an interesting novel. Same goes with The Testament.

I plan to come back and finish what I started. Then again, I have found yet another book that I cannot seem to put down.

Bad reader!

Sex Education in the Philippines- The Good, the Bad, and the Really Ugly

In a predominantly Catholic country, it is a safe assumption to make that citizens are not as open minded about sex as well as any and all of its nuances. It also follows that children are not able to access information on the subject until they become old enough to use resources such as the internet and printed publications.

Given the present statistics on teenage pregnancy, illegal abortions, and adultery, it is no longer a question of whether or not Sex Education is necessary. In most cases, information is a tool used to formulate opinions and decisions. In the case of sex education, information is the most effective means of sparing youngsters from the perils of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and emotional distress.

Why is Sex Education So Controversial?

While the Catholic Church is the sector most adamant against instituting sex ed classes in Philippine schools, it is not the only hindrance to taking a step forward. The conservative nature of Filipinos is the most serious hurdle that makes it nearly impossible to pave the way for the effective and purposeful approach to sex education. For a country that still frowns upon pre-marital cohabitation, homosexuality, and divorce, it is not at all surprising that people remain intransigent about the prospect of teaching children about sexual intercourse as well as the responsibilities that come with the act.

Most parents do not allow their children to refer to their sexual organs with anatomical specificity, let alone openly tell them the truth about the birds and the bees Some parents go so far as imposing punishment on their children if/when they ask about sex, which can cause emotional trauma resulting to an aversion towards discussing the merits as well as perils of the act.

Context

Any subject matter taught in public as well as private school systems need to be within the proper context. In this case, sex education must be limited to facts surrounding the biological as well as emotional aspect of the act. The goal of sex education is not to expose children to proclivities or predilections, but allow them to fully understand what the human body goes through when a person engages in intercourse.

One of the misconceptions people have about sex ed is that it would essentially be a how-to guide for the enjoyment of sexual intercourse. It must be made clear that Sex ed will be approached using extreme caution and with utmost regard to boundaries. There are certain things children SHOULD NOT know at their young age, i.e. how to properly fellate a guy or how to render the best cunnilingus.

Coverage

So what should children really learn from sex education? Such course should include the following subject matters:

1. The physiological effects of sex in a man’s and woman’s body

2. The purpose of sex (procreation, above everything else)****

3. Safety requirements when engaging in sex (condoms for men, effective birth control for women)

4. Potential health threats when engaging in unsafe sex (immediate and long term effects of contracting STDs, types of STDs)

5. Premarital sex (why is it frowned upon, is it really a bad idea, why do people engage in premarital relations)

Balancing Act

An effective Sex Ed program is one that respects and regards the emotional as well as intellectual maturity of children in relation to the type of information they are provided. In my opinion, sex ed should be provided to students in the 6th grade and higher. Providing information that cannot be properly processed, imbibed, and retained will effectively be an exercise in futility.

Educators must ensure that the students are capable of understanding the facts, for which they need to use their discretion.

Getting Rid of Judgmental/ Preconceived Notions

Parents do tend to shield their children from certain aspects of life, especially those deemed immoral or inappropriate. As a result, kids go out into the world completely clueless, much like chickens running around with their heads cut off. In their attempt to keep their children’s minds “pristine” and “innocent”, parents inadvertently raise young men and women who have absolutely no idea what’s waiting for them in the real world. If it is protection that parents want for their children, they have to be willing to concede a small amount of authority if only to ensure that the next generation does not lose its innocence too soon.

Sex education should be geared towards getting rid of erroneous views about sex and the preconceived notion that prevents people, both young and old, from appreciating its beauty as well as the responsibilities that come with it.

Homosexuality and Discrimination

While Filipinos like to pretend to be tolerant and accepting, it is a fairly obvious fact that homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgenders remain marginalized and discriminated against. The important corollary to the necessity of sex education is that children also have to understand the nature of homosexuality (as well as other sexual preferences) and why it is important to treat everyone with respect regardless of their sexual preferences.

Children need to learn that there is no place for bigotry in this day and age.

TBC....

****subject to debate and discussion among students once they reach the age of consent (16 y.o. as far as I know. Please correct me if I am wrong)

Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes in Killing me Softly

The scene in the cabin on their honeymoon.

Hot lady + Breath Play= beautifully erotic.

Formula One DVDs. I am still years behind though. Literally.

I am missing the entire 1970s, 80s, and 2000-2009.

At this rate, I'd be old and drooling by the time I completed my collection.

Please please please someone point me to the right direction.

Thanks

95-00813

03-20369

I was perhaps one of the most delinquent college students in history. I had a steady girlfriend for about 2 years and her snatch was so addictive I never bothered to attend classes anymore, except to take exams. Looking back, I don't regret any of it. She was worth it. My last year in college was spent mostly stealing girls from their idiotic boyfriends who cannot distinguish a woman's clitoris from a hole in the ground. I miss being in college, and not because I liked being a student but because the experience afforded me plenty of rope to fool around, sans consequences. I have to admit. I like the ladies and quite a few of them liked me. If there is a time in my life I'd want to go back to, college would definitely be it. Co-ed girls at my University were hot, innocent, and corruptible.

Loved it. I miss it everyday.

Triple Espresso at 175 degrees.

Got the ThinkPad T440s with 4th Generation Intel (Haswell) processor.

The keyboard works very well. The keys are damped so they are not as clacky and annoying as other keyboards. Tactile feedback as well as key travel are also excellent. As expected, since it is a Haswell, it is more power efficient compared to Ivy Bridge powered notebooks. The battery lasts about 9 hours with moderate use (playing HD videos, browsing web pages, and using Word and Excel, with WIFi and Bluetooth on)

The FHD screen resolution is more than adequate. Although this may only be because my previous PC had an abysmal resolution of 1280 by 640.

I did try to drop it from a height of 5 feet to test its magnesium alloy roll cage and it turned out just fine.

The only disappointing part is the audio. The speakers produce a rather tinny sound, which can be annoying when watching movies or TV series.

Overall, it is a solid piece of machine with adequate memory, processing power, and storage. Then again, I do not have high demands in computing or processing so I can't say this unit would fit the needs of programmers or image professionals (photo/video editors)

Thanks for you input Jasper.Lynch80 and bluechristian28.

Michael Jordan is to basketball just as Michael Schumacher is to Formula One. What makes MJ not only the greatest basketball player that ever lived, but also the definitive athlete is that he puts discipline above all else. He lives and breathes competitiveness that he cannot tolerate anything less than the best he can give at any given time. From the generations of NBA players that I have seen play, there are a couple of cagers who posses more impressive natural skills than MJ- Bill Russell and Lebron James being two of them. However, what MJ lacked in innate talent (and let me preface this by saying he is not without skills), he more than made up for in sheer discipline and the need to be the best. He trains harder than anyone and he demands only the best efforts even if he is burning with fever and had to clutch a bucket the entire game because he was puking his guts out.

His Airness changed the face of basketball at a time when people thought the sport cannot be made more popular. There are places in Africa where there is no potable water, yet the knowledge of Michael Jordan's is abundant. He became the poster boy for athleticism not because he produced incredible stats and set astounding records, but because he is the embodiment of what it is to be a sportsman.

His utter failure in professional baseball is in fact proof of just how much MJ needed competition. There is the constant clamor for the next high, the next basket made, the next championship. He lives in a world where he is not happy until he has exhausted all possible formulas for winning. When he does NOT win, he looks to changing it right away. Looking back, the fact that he was drafted 3rd overall behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie (yeah, I know, Sam Bowie who?) respectively seems rather ridiculous to say the least.

Younger players such as Lebron, Wade, Durant, and even Kobe (he's not that young but he still belongs to the post-MJ era) can only hope to achieve at least half of what MJ did in his illustrious career.

The bottom line is that Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the standard against which every other basketball player that came before him and those that came after are measured. I doubt anything can be better than that.

Nope. I don't have weekends

Finds using automatic (coin-operated) laundromats therapeutic and mildly addictive

Bearable. Tolerable.

Its what B.O.B's are for. They are indeed tools for survival.

Anything beyond a month, I start climbing off the walls.

Tip for the ladies: Invest in THE PINK RABBIT/BUNNY (They are called by different names at different stores) and a Bullet or Egg (Again different names but you get the point)

For the gents: Lots of Girl on Girl Porn on your hard drive/smartphone/iPod/tablet and a bottle of Jasmine scented hypoallergenic lotion

Here's to warding off THE DROUGHT...

Tenacious

Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

and Hardy Boys (very close second)

Hello! I am technically challenged and in the market for a new notebook. I do not have very high processing speed requirements. I do not edit videos or RAW files, play demanding 3D games, or write computer code. I am a simple freelance writer so all I really need is something that is a joy to type on (and by that I mean a keyboard that wont cause any cramping or fatigue even after 10,000 words), loads fast, and has a display resolution of at least 1366 x 768. Anything that weighs less than 3.5 lbs would be ideal.

Budget is 20,000 to 25,000. I would appreciate your advice/suggestions.

Thank you sirs/madams.

Favorite authors: No Specific order

Stephen King

John Le Carre

Jeffrey Deaver

James Patterson (although I am this close to giving up on him completely. Avid Patterson readers would know why)

Scott Turow

William Peter Blatty

Hank Moody aka Henry James Moody (or whoever really wrote the short novel God Hates Us All. Still looking forward to the release of f#&king and Punching. Not sure if that is really coming out in print. Anyone familiar with this please advise. thanks)

Robin Cook

John Grisham

Lisa Valdez

Dean Koontz

Justin Cronin

Tom Clancy (May he rest in peace)

Thomas Harris

Vladimir Nabokov

Franz Kafka

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky

Bob Ong (before he/she/they decided to take up fiction. Social satire was this author's strong suit. Oh well)

Favorite Books:

Pet Sematary

The Innocent

Presumed Innocent

The Passage

The Twelve

TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY

House of the Rising Sun

Clear and PResent Danger

The Bear and the Dragon

Rainbow Six

The Sum of All Fears (which of course they had to turn into an abortion on the big screen)

Hannibal, Silence of the Lambs, and Red Dragon

The Runaway Jury

Tap, Tap

The Shining

The Tommyknockers

Thinner

NEEDFUL THINGS

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Body of Proof

Four Blind Mice, Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Cradle and All, I ALEX CROSS, Cross, Double Cross, Mary Mary, The Big Bad Wolf,

The Exorcist

Lolita

The Double

Metamorphosis

For the love of Crackers...

Oy Vey..

Oh Bollocks!

That would be your mini bar

I'd definitely raid the mini bar next time I am staying in Manila.

Annabelle...

Before the Conjuring, there was Annabelle.

Looking for a nice decent bar where a girl can get a drink alone around Makati (near Pen). Preferably somewhere that is NOT hook- central.

Thank you.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

by John Le Carre