There are lots of special occasions in the coming months for this family of ours and it is customary to give the celebrant a gift as a token, no matter how small it is. After all, as the saying goes, it is the thought that counts.
As the designated person in the family to think of gifts to give, I sometimes do run out of ideas, especially when you've known the celebrant for so long. But, on the other hand, it helps as well that you do have an inkling of their interests in life.
Let's take my friend V, for example, who loves Italian food. An option is to give her one of those italian food gift baskets. The ones at Gourmet Gift Baskets are quite popular with their customers so I might just pick that one for my friend. Not only that, they've also got gift baskets for other occasions and themes which they can ship to any country via FedEx. Knowing about this eases my mind, which makes it whole lot easier now for me to shop for gifts for friends and family.
When I first started this blog, I learned that you should reach out to fellow bloggers to gain new friends and of course, back links. At first, I only had a handful of blogs that I frequently visit but thanks to events such as bloggermeet ups, these numbers started to grow.
I realized that visiting each of these blogs for anything new is a lot of work. Mind you, I don’t just drop by and do some link bait, I do read your blogs. ^_^ It’s not that I don’t want to visit their blogs but having to open 20+ blogs everyday is very time consuming. Also, it is not also the fact that they have new posts every time I visit so I looked for an alternative way to check their blogs for updates without visiting each blog one at a time.
Then came RSS (Really Simple Syndication).
What is RSS?
RSS is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it. (Source)
You need to have a feed reader such as Google Reader in order to use RSS. Basically, I can read all of your blogs without having to visit of your blog individually. Take a look at this screen shot of Google Reader.
As you can see, I have over fifty new blog entries to read spanning from different blogs. As long as I’m subscribed to a blog’s feed, all of that blog’s new posts will show up in my Google Reader.
How to use RSS?
To be able to use RSS, you need two things:
A blog’s feed
A feed reader
Where can I find a blog’s feed?
Some blogs have pictures (feed buttons) that link to their blog’s feed. The default picture looks like an orange box with a “volume” looking symbol such as this. Clicking on this picture will show my feeds.
Help! I can’t find that feed picture!
Other blogger’s use different pictures (feed buttons) to link to their RSS feeds.
PinoyBlogero has a customized feed button. (Karlo, allow me to hotlink your feed button ahah)
Sometimes, other bloggers forget to put a link to their RSS feeds that’s why you can’t find them. However, there’s a way through this. You can let the feed reader’s find them for you. Currently, I’m using google reader and all I do is to write the blog’s url or address and it will do the rest.
I hope you now know how powerful feed readers are! Feel the power surging to your body! Bwahaha! Enjoy using feed readers!
Gah! So many things to do but so little time! My life right now is one massive balancing act. I've got so many projects that are in the works right now, plus I'm trying to cram in as many articles for those occasional paying opportunities. Oh, and yes, I am still a full-time mother and wife. That's a whole lot to juggle especially when you've got chores to do as well.
I wish I could say I was Wonder Woman or some heroine of that sort so that I can accomplish more in a day. But frankly, I do feel there really isn't enough time to do all these things. :(
Alright, got to get back to work. Precious time is wasted with these ramblings! :P
The minimum criteria for the assessment process have been revised. This will apply to all applications received by the COTRB office from 1 August 2007 onwards.
In particular, the English language criteria has been amended to accept only the IELTS examination by way of an English language test (the OET is no longer accepted), and more detailed information is now provided about circumstances in which the requirement for completion of the IELTS examination will be waived.
Please click on the following link to go to the Assessment Criteria page of the website for full details of the minimum criteria that must be met in order for an applicant to be eligible for skilled migration and to practice in Australia.
The difference now is that they won’t be accepting certificates from your schools attesting that English was the medium of instruction used during your study. Also, they did accept applications before from graduates of non-WFOT accredited schools, but who have had relevant and extensive working experience. It used to be enough for them. Obviously, they are implementing stricter rules in the assessment process, trying to keep up with other international accrediting bodies.
The only good thing with the COTRB is that there is no written exam involved. Once you’ve passed the desktop audit where they evaluate your credentials, all you need to do next is show how competent you are as an occupational therapist in the practice audit part. It’ll be all downhill from there.
You can download the revised information leaflet from COTRB here.
Finally, the trailer for the upcoming AVP sequel entitled, “Alien vs. Predator - Requiem”, has been released. You can watch it below… for those who get squeamish on scenes with blood and decapitations… just skip the vid. Gory trailer… gory. But, hey… what’s an AVP flick without a bloodfest right?!
So many things have happened the past few days that I didn’t really get the chance to update my blog… funny! So, let me enumerate the more notable events which happened just recently.
Tooth Begone! I recently (about a week ago) had my molar extracted! It’s been a long and dreary battle with my tooth and finally, I decided to just have the dentist yank it out. Anyone who has ever experienced a really bad toothache can relate. You can’t work, can’t talk, practically cannot concentrate on anything at all! Not to mention the bad mood that you’re in throughout the day. But that doesn’t mean I’m pain-free already. The tooth that was pulled out was a BIG one! So, I’m still kinda recovering from it… and I’m still taking pain killers (though not as frequent as the first few days after the extraction). Couldn’t eat right… oh, and I was adviced by my dentist not to engage in any strenuous activities for 3 days! There goes my weightlifting routine for the week… bummer! So was “sexy time”! LOL!
Under the Weather Apparently, this whole tooth extraction thingy has caused me to feel under the weather… and the cold sore just beside my swelling gum ain’t helping at all! More pain relievers! Dammit!
Wordpress Pinoys My baby project which has taken off quite successfully! I’ve been busy creating a virtual home for all Pinoy Wordpressers (Wordpress.Com and Wordpress.Org)… I’m very grateful that the vast majority of Wordpress Pinoy Bloggers have joined the group. Lots of events, projects and ideas will come out of this newly formed community. Some of ‘em are already in the works… just you wait for it! In a span of merely 4 days, we’ve grown to an impressive 84 members already! Our members are just as enthusiastic about this group as I am! I’m pretty sure there are more Filipino Wordpressers out there who haven’t heard of our community but slowly and surely we will gather each and every one of ‘em. Hopefully we can eventually hold Wordpress-sanctioned events here in the Philippines… that would be cool, huh?! In fact, I was able to talk to Matt (Mullenweg) of Wordpress/Automattic and he thought that the community and the official events the group plans to engage in are very good ideas. So, if you’re a Pinoy with a Wordpress blog… join your new home on the net… meet the rest of the wacky bunch at Wordpress Pinoys!
Oh and by the way… for those who aren’t aware… Wordpress Pinoys used to be located at Google Groups but due to the sudden upsurge of memberships, tracking conversations and discussions within the group became a tedious and sometimes impossible task. So, we finally put up our own forum located here. Discussion threads and the exchanging of ideas are much easier to monitor now. And everyone seems to be happy with it (Whew!). I’ve wanted so badly for the transition from one site to the other to be a smooth one that I practically didn’t have time to maintain my own blog! Haha… But we have very competent and responsible moderators over there already so I can go back to my regular blogging habit. Did anyone miss my articles? Anyone at all? Hehe. Anyhow, everyone who was (and still is) a member of the “Wordpress Pinoys” Google Group is now a member of this new incarnation. So, SALI NA!
So I guess that’s it! More articles very soon… Hope everyone missed me! You guys did miss me, right? Right?!
The SAMAHAN finally expressed their sympathy on the aftermath of Mr. Enriquez' unjust sanction for the nine students who violated the student code of conduct for ID's. The photos above says "Let us light a candle in sympathy to the 9 Ateneo students who became victims of unjust sanction and public humiliation".
About two weeks ago, the Ateneo Community noticed the presence of a "WANTED" poster in the Office of the Student Affairs Bulletin Board. Contained in this poster are the photos and IDs of 9 students who violated the school's policy on IDs.
As far as I know, when someone violates a rule stated in the student's handbook, the person guilty of such violation shall be given proper sanctions. Sanctions for certain violations vary depending on its weight. Such things shall be determined by the OSA Director or by the Disciplinary Board. Example of these sanctions are public apology, community service, suspension and expulsion. Not once that I have heard of a rule saying that the school will publicly humiliate students who will violate the rules stated in the student's handbook.
Never in their life did these students wished to be placed in a "WANTED" poster. Never did the parents of these students imagined treating their sons and daughters as criminals. Never did they imagined that the very school they respect will give this unjust treatment.
I share the same sentiments with those students who suffered this unjust treatment. If they have violated school rules, then give them the proper sanction they deserve. They don't deserve to be treated like criminals and be humiliated in public. What these students need is justice which was taken from them by person/s involved in the Ateneo Administration.
I have been dying to do some personal shopping for quite some time now. Ever since Erin came into our lives, I haven't had the chance to buy things for myself in the leisurely pace that I would want to. Not only that, I also need to take into consideration our budget since we are now a family of three.
Online vouchers such as those found on WebbyPlanet can come handy when I want to save up on my purchases and still get the best deal from it. They offer a lot of coupons from various merchants, which is great because it gives me loads of choices. :)
Remember that trip back home to Manila I was raving about in an earlier post? Well, I took a peek at our countdown ticker (see footer) and discovered that as of today we have exactly nine months to go before that much-awaited trip. It's getting nearer by the minute!
Any time soon, J and I must start booking flights to Manila and flights to Australia as well. As I have mentioned before, J will be heading back home to Oz a month earlier than Erin and I will. I am hoping to convince my mom to come along with us on our flight back to Sydney because I know Erin will be quite a handful and it will be very difficult to travel with just the two of us in the airplane. Besides, she might want to visit her friend up in Queensland and avail one of those cheap Cairns flights. She might be able to enjoy her holidays in Australia this time around because Erin's all grown up now. :)
And since we always book our flights online, maybe we can do it on DialAFlight this time as they offer cheap flights and hotel accomodations. We could probably save heaps of money and still get to enjoy our holidays.
Kalasag, Ang taunang aklat ng Ateneo de Davao University, is now accepting applications for Awitenista 2008 Production Staff. Be part of Ateneo's biggest music happening.
Northern Luzon Bureau
Last updated 05:13pm (Mla time) 08/27/2007
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- Nurses who passed the scandal-ridden 2006 licensure examinations wanted to call themselves members of Batch 2007, after successfully passing the licensure test for a second time.
"Refer to us as Batch 2007, please," said Cyndi Erfe, one of the three Baguio nurses who first exposed cheating in 2006.
This is the second Taste Asia Blogger Meet Up that was held in SM Mall of Asia but it’s my first time joining it. Although it’s kind of late to post this, allow me to retell the story of my experience in this blogger meet up. ^_^I first got to know that there was such an event when Ms. Aileen Apolo wrote a comment about it in here. Upon knowing it, I quickly checked my schedule if there would be a conflict like what if I have to go home to Iloilo or have some thesis requirements in school. I’m glad there was none to stop me from confirming my attendance.
On the day of the event, Karlo @ Pinoyblogero and I went to SM Mall of Asia way ahead of time. It was just about 2pm I think and the event will start on 730pm. We were looking for fellow bloggers to hang out with us but we could not contact anybody. (fast forwarding to the event)
When we went to taste asia, there were already lots of people there. I can recognize a few from my first blogger meet up (Digital Filipino). We registered, got our name tags and received a list of blogger names that would attend. We are supposed to go and meet the other bloggers while asking them to sign on the list of bloggers. At the registration, Karlo introduced me to Jerico.
Inside the venue, I met Ms. Noemi and Billycoy. We were hanging out on the tables when waiters started offering us finger foods (siomai, cheese sticks, dumplings and pizza). There was also a waiter that offered us green tea and we were shocked when we drank it. It contained the following ingredients, H20, ginebra san mig gin, sugar, tea extract, natuqe identifcal flavors, gin concentrate, citric acid and FD&C colors.
So after eating a few finger food, we decided to go out and hunt for signatures. I also got to know new and old friends. This is one good thing that happens when you attend eyeballs or meet ups, you get to know the people behind their online identities or their blogs. Some really resemble who they are in their blogs, some don’t so it is not wise to make assumptions or expectations on somebody unless you have met them in person.
There was a writing contest (SM Hypermart Blog Writing contest) included in the show, (I did not know about this so I wasn’t able to join -_-). Anyways, congratulations to the winners especially to AnitoKid who won the grand prize, trip to Kuala Lumpur. Allow me to present the list of winners…
Grand Prize (trip for 2 to Kuala Lumpur) - Anitokid 1st Runner Up (Sanyo digital camera) - Anton Diaz
Now, it’s time for some link love! I would like to link up those people that I have met and got their signature. Oh, I also got a prize for having a lot of signatures. I did not get first place (which the prize was a dvd player) but I got two packs of grocery items (it’s not sinigang mix :P).
Whew this was a lot of work writing all the blog names and adding links. Now if only they would link back to me, that would be a lot of back links! bwahahah
Easing the course of Guillan-Barre syndrome
Author/s: Treesa L. Worsham
Issue: March, 2000
Patients can rapidly develop a number of life-threatening problems,
including the inabiltly to swallow and breathe. Here you'll find
information about GBS and the nursing care necessary to see patients
safely through the crisis.
In the late '70s, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) was little known,
tied in the
Going with the flow. (preventing clogged feeding tubes)
Author/s: Karen Brennan Krupp
Issue: April, 1998
Find out what problems to anticipate-- and how a few simple steps can
head them off.
A clogged enteral feeding tube that can't be cleared must be replaced
an unwelcome prospect for you and your patient. At the very least,
he'll miss getting some of the fluid and nutrition he needs. At
worst,
And so, the latest mini-twist to the Malu Fernandez saga was Manila Standard Today's August 27 issue that said she is going to resume her column the next Monday, or September 3. (Photos in Freedom Watch, Rom's Smoke blog, PinoyBlogero, and here)
The reason why an actual copy of the Manila Standard Today where it appeared has to be seen was because it was surprising to see such a photo from Rom, who I think was the first one that posted online.
luge n. (luzh) , a type of small sled on which one or two persons, lying face up, slide feet first down snowy hillsides or down steeply banked, curving, iced chutes similar to those used in bobsledding.
sled... ice... snowy hillsides... exciting?
There's no snow here in Singapore, at least not in Sentosa, but you can try the luge going down a steep downhill. But first, you need to go up the hill. It's a long way up so there's no better way to get there other than the Skyride. It's an open-air cable-driven chairlift which gives you a fantastic view of the beach, the sea and the nearby islands. This leisure ride will coast on top of the trees, don't look down and just try to enjoy the view of the other Sentosa attractions. Don't forget to smile when you're nearing the tower with a camera. You can view your pictures once you alight and can have them printed if your smile is good enough for you.
Then it's time for the Luge! Pick just the right size of helmet and proceed to the starting line. There, friendly guides are waiting for you with your ride. They'll give you a crash course on how to drive... a luge.
It's quite simple. The luge is a self-driving car system in which riders control the speed by pushing a pair of handlebars back and forth. The luge ride goes downhill, relying on gravitational pull to move. Pull the handle bars towards you to completely stop, release a bit then you're on way again. Understand and follow the simple instructions from the guides. When you're already gliding down, make sure you show some courtesy. Slow down when others are overtaking. When it's your turn to overtake, let them know of your intention before you proceed. Just be careful! There are also cameras on the track near the finish line so make sure you slow down and smile!
Tip: Read what's on the guides' jersey. "Once is never enough" Be sure to get more than one ride. They charge less for extra rides. Although the ride up may get a bit boring, the luge ride will definetely make up for it. It's open till late at night.
Although safe for all ages, common restrictions apply. To ride the luge, riders must be in good health and free of heart conditions, motion sickness, epilepsy, back & neck problems and other physical limitations. Expectant mothers cannot ride.
I was doing my usual blog hopping this morning and i've seen the usual so so's-- some new blogs, the same old bigtime blogs keep making themselves rich, and some small scale blogs gradually dying a natural death (I hope this dont happen to mine). But I saw one thing that urged me to post about it.
There's an Automated Technorati Favorite Your Fans!
Now, could it get any cooler than this? I know humankind has been an avid fan of convenience but this I think is way too off the line. But i love it anyways.
Currently, i have 23 fans on this blog and out of those 23, ive only favorited like 10 or 12 of them. Why? Because it simply takes time to find out whos the newest one who favorited you. Well, consider this problem a part of history. I found out a program that would do all this for you. I found it over at InternetDuctTape and i think it was a great find. . .
Here's how it works: It almost felt like the PathoPhysiology i work on over when i do my Nursing Reports. haha! Anyhow, the image pretty much sums up everything up. I tried it personally and it worked like a charm. Great work EngTech! Download the tool here.
Fave Me and I'll Auto Fave you!
Ive always wanted to start this on this blog but in connection to this find, i thought i might start it here. So, if you want to increase your technorati ranking , Fave my blog and once every 3 days, ill run this program. And if in case youll not see me on your fan page, leave me a comment here or contact me.
Bad news for those Air Travelers out there. Davao International Airport increased it's Domestic Terminal Fee from 50.00 pesos to 200.00 pesos starting today, August 28. That's a 500% increase.
This increase in terminal fee is a mandate by Department Order No. 2007-25 issued by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). The said increase takes effect in various airports all over the country.
I have been very proud before because DIA offers the cheapest Domestic Terminal Fee in the country. But now, at 200.00 pesos, it is charging the same rate as that of Ninoy International Airport.
According to Councilor Lavina, the 500% hike in airport fee is the result of the lack of airport revenue since its opening 2003.
I was rummaging though an old folder and found this photo. It was taken last year at Pundaquit, July if im not mistaken. There was a storm that time but that did not stop us from going. The waves were twice my height, crashing along shore like turbulence and moving back out to sea taking with it whatever it can leaving us with nothing. I have not been there for quite a while, and to think that's my hometown. I kinda miss the sound of the waves as it hits the rocks, the cottages, the calm and peaceful sea at night. I miss...
But that's not what this is about (i just got carried away)
And the plot thickens. This is more interesting than I thought.
Freedom Watch checked the photo posted here (which I also posted the last time) whether it really got published in the Manila Standard Today. And suprise! This announcement was posted in the August 27 issue of the paper, or several days after the public outrage over the issue was reflected in the online and mainstream media.
I haven't been a fan of beauty pageants of late but this one got my attention when they featured it on Rove last Sunday. You have got to watch this.
Ano daw? I couldn't get her point. Can you? She was going around in circles the whole time.
Alright, let's give her the benefit of the doubt. I suppose she must have been terribly nervous at the time, hence, the fumble. I mean I, for one, personally hate speaking in front of a huge crowd. I know lots of people do. But candidates in this type of competition surely must have had enough practice to have that presence of mind. Then again, in Miss South Carolina's case, maybe not. :P
I guess the kicker here is that inspite of making that boo-boo on international TV, she still managed to bag third place in the pageant. Imagine that! Now I reckon it's the judges who do not have the 'presence of mind.' Pun definitely intended. :D
The nurse must be able to do the following:
1. Identify the indications for mechanical ventilation.
2. List the steps in preparing a patient for intubation.
3. Determine the FIO2, tidal volume, rate and mode of ventilation on a given
ventilator.
4. Describe the various modes of ventilation and their implications.
5. Describe at least two complications associated with patient’s response to
I'm now back from my Malaysia trip. After observing my travel habits including those of my fellow passengers I want to share to my readers this indispensable tips to make your hundred or thousand miles journey hassle free and without inconveniencing other travellers.
Before going to the airport:
*Always have a blue or black in pen handy to sign immigration declaration forms and other documents.
*Remember to lock every single zipper in your bag. When packing, to get fewer wrinkles on your clothes, roll them! Particularly shirts and they also allow you to add more stuff into your luggage. Oprah even does it.
*After all the bomb scares around the world, make sure you don’t bring in any liquid on your hand luggage to avoid inconvenience. (You could bring a certain regulated amount but it is better just to put it on your checked luggage).
*Dress light but bring a jacket just in case you can’t stand the cold temperature inside an aircraft. Don’t overdress unless of course your final destination is Japan. And finally, don’t wear clothes with metallic objects as you will regret it after going through countless security checks.
*Bring extra clothes on your carry-on to freshen up and just in case your flight will be delayed forever and you don’t have access to your luggage anymore.
*Be aware if the airport where you will be departing requires you to pay anything like travel taxes or terminal fees. Most airports wouldn't charge you anymore for those taxes as it is already incorporated in your ticket except Manila, Saigon and Bangkok to name a few.
*Carry less hand luggage as much as possible especially when transiting to different airports.
*If you don’t want to use your credit card abroad always have an extra U$20 in your wallet even after your trip. Just in case you get stuck in an airport even if that bag you got in London looks great... it's not worth it if you're starving and lost in a 10 hour layover in an airport. There’s an exemption: Singapore Changi International Airport – where else would you look forward to being delayed.
Inside an aircraft:
*For the millionth time, do remember to turn off your mobile phone before boarding the aircraft because everyone will blame you when the plane crashes. Remember the preflight announcement? “Turn off any electronic devices as it may interfere with the aircraft navigation equipment.”
*When seating in economy class remember that personal space is a premium and needed to be respected at all times. Avoid reclining your seat before take-off or during landing. Remember, you are inside an airplane, not a Victory Liner.
*It is perfectly fine to take off your shoes during along flight and people would not mind but make sure that your feet don’t smell like a skunk as the plane is an enclosed space.
*The low humidity levels of outside air being supplied to the cabin can cause drying of the the eyes which can irritate wearers of contact lenses.
*And finally, no, they do not serve hard drinks for breakfast. Look on the bright side, you should avoid them including coffee and tea as they act as diuretics.
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- Nurses who passed the scandal-ridden 2006 licensure examinations wanted to call themselves members of Batch 2007, after successfully passing the licensure test for a second time. "Refer to us as Batch 2007, please," said Cyndi Erfe, one of the three Baguio nurses who first exposed cheating in 2006. Erfe was among the June 2006 board passers who gave up their licenses and retook the five sets of examinations in 2007. She said retaking the whole test erased the stigma of last year's examinations, which prompted American nurses' associations to review the licenses of Filipino nurses seeking employment there. She is testifying against two former board examiners and two nursing review centers for their alleged role in test leakages in 2006. Maria Grace Lacanaria, nursing school dean of the Saint Louis University, said nurses of Batch 2006 who chose to keep their licenses still "have great professional futures."
The president of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) made a personal appeal to Filipino doctors who want to take up nursing to be able to work abroad.
Dr. Leah Paquiz said the PNA cannot control the number of people who want to take up the nursing profession because it is the right of every individual.
She, however, said: " Makikiusap po ako sa kanila: Huwag na po kayong mag-nurse para naman po mayroong mga doktor na maiwan sa Pilipinas (I'm appealing to them: Please don't take up nursing. We need doctors in the Philippines).”
Paquiz admitted that more doctors are determined to leave the country to work overseas as nurses because of the bigger pay and incentives.
The PNA chief also said that she is concerned over the exodus of doctors to other countries to look for work as nurses.
“Madami kasi. Nawawalan na po tayo ng doktor. Iyon ang nakakalungkot, nawawalan na tayo ng doctor na titingin sa atin (They're too many. We're losing our doctors. It's sad because we're losing the doctors who should take care of us),” she added.
