Pinoy Blog Machine (Beta)

Erin is more than half a year old now and in no time, it's going to be her first birthday already. We are already trying to come up with a shortlist of venues where we can hold just a private little party for close friends and relatives. Also, I plan to make the invitations myself, probably using digital scrapbooking techniques to come up with a unique design. We are very much looking forward to that big day!

Here is an excerpt of an article written by Renee Watling, PhD, OTR/L, Stefanie Bodison, MA, OTR/L, Diana A. Henry, MS, OTR/L, CWT, and Heather Miller-Kuhaneck, MS, OTR/L, BCP on the use of Sensory Integration not only in pediatrics but also in clients across the life span.

This article makes a case that because humans are sensory beings and sensation is inherent in all occupations, the sensory integration framework is relevant to occupational therapy practice beyond pediatrics. Further, we propose that all occupational therapy practitioners should seek to understand the relevance of the sensory integration framework for the specific clientele with whom they work, regardless of age. We believe that the sensory integration framework can be a useful lens for interpreting behaviors and a guide for implementing strategies to enhance occupational performance in clients across the life span. To this end, some of the sensory-based experiences that persons may encounter across the life span are discussed, and the relevance of the sensory integration framework is proposed. We have chosen to present this information according to a developmental progression to express how dysfunction in sensory integration can be manifested across the life span.

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Definition of Sensory Integration

According to A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR, who pioneered this theory, …

Sensory integration is the neurological process that organizes sensations from one’s body and from the environment, and makes it possible to use the body to make adaptive responses within the environment. To do this, the brain must register, select, interpret, compare, and associate sensory information in a flexible, constantly-changing pattern.

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Erin has been very irritable since yesterday. She did not want to be left alone in her cot and she cried for most of the afternoon. She wanted to be carried and did not allow me to even sit down. She wasn't hungry either. I was baffled! I did not know anymore what to do to pacify her and I was getting tired already.

So I took a peek at her gums to see if that was the source of her discomfort. And there it was!

There was a tiny white dot on her gums, which I originally thought was just a food particle. But when I tried to remove it, it would not budge an inch. Now I could conclude that, as of yesterday, she was finally teething! :)

The one erupting at the moment is actually her left lateral incisor of her lower jaw, which is unusual as it's the central ones that usually come out first. I'll take a picture of it when it's more prominent.

Now I need to shop around for her own toothbrush and toothpaste. Erin is definitely growing up fast. :)

The ZTE controversy continues to be in the news, and rightfully so.

But how come there was hardly any local report looking at possible link between the alleged outrageous perks and bribery attempts of Philippine officials by ZTE (which is owned by the Chinese government) and China's problem with its huge foreign exchange reserves as well as the widespread culture of corruption in both the Philippine and Chinese governments?

An insightful piece on China's foreign exchange and corruption woes from the International Herald Tribune.

HONG KONG: In the insular world of China's central bank, they are known as the Three Xiaos — three women with similar names who oversee the greatest fortune ever assembled: China's more than $1 trillion in foreign- exchange reserves.

The Three Xiaos are exceptions in the male-dominated world of Chinese policy making. And after the sharp fall in Chinese stock markets shook financial markets around the world last week, the three women face enormous challenges, including a potential showdown over policy during the meeting this week of the National People's Congress, China's Parliament.

Public pressure is mounting within China on the central bank, the People's Bank of China. In postings on domestic Internet message boards and in conversations among educated urban Chinese, critics are suggesting that the central bank should earn higher profits from its vast hoard by investing in stocks, for instance, and use some of the reserves to help a country where most workers still earn less than a tenth of the wages of the typical American.

Foreign-exchange reserves have soared across much of the developing world, but particularly in China. One reason lies in extensive currency intervention as these countries try to keep their exports competitive in Western markets by curbing the appreciation of their currencies against the dollar.

Read more here.

The beaches of the Philippines are truly pieces of several paradise on earth! There’s even a silent rule for travel writers when describing the Philippines… I noticed that it is almost compulsory to indicated that our country has “7,107 islands.” No travel write-up is complete when you don’t mention it.

Palawan deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. The paradise province earned 3 entries in The Great Asian Beach Finder article of the October 2007 issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Palawan was mentioned in the categories of one of the best beaches in Asia, one of the best beach hotels (Amanpulo) and one of the best beaches for sports (Diving at Bacuit Bay).

But on the negative note, Boracay as the country’s most popular beach had a negative review. The author noted that Boracay “once routinely ranked among the world’s best beaches, I saw more trash than seashells.” She is partly correct, being a frequent visitor of Boracay since 1996, I saw in my last 7 trips to Boracay how the island became a victim and succumbed because of too much commercialization. My most beautiful memory of Boracay was in 1996 when the island still has that secluded charm.

This time it’s Az’s turn to tag me and all the rest of the guys listed on his blogroll… (that’s a lot of peeps!). So, the game is like this… you take a snap shot of your workplace and post it as an entry on your blog. It’s that simple! So without further ado… here is how my workplace looks (at least most of it):

Basically, you get an idea of how the area looks like. Normally, the workstation has more clutter than it does on the pic… mostly pens, CD-Rs, lyric and chord sheets… stuff like that…!

Okay… tag time!!! This time I tag: PAO, JIM, JUN (I’d sure like to see your clinic!), TAROOGS & SELVO

You’re IT! Hehehe!

Shopping for the holidays can leave you sometimes broke especially if you have got a terribly long list of people to give to. Now, that would be an absolute nightmare indeed!

So what do you do in situations like these? Collect coupons to get massive discounts on your favorite items. That way, you'll save heaps of dollars and then, you'll be able to buy more stuff for other people on your list. You can cut or print out these coupons or just enter coupon codes online to redeem the discount.

Speaking of the holidays, I have not yet drawn up my list! I am still undecided as to whether to get J programming books using Amazon coupons or Amazon coupon codes; or to avail of great Nike deals using Nike coupons to buy him a pair of nice rubber shoes or two. Help me out, will you?