SPANISH LESSON on Computers

A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. 'House' for instance, is feminine: 'la casa.' 'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz..' A student asked, 'What gender is 'computer'?' Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether computer' should be a  masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation. The men's group decided that 'computer' should definitely be of the feminine gender ('la computadora'), because: 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic; 2 The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else; 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it. (THIS GETS BETTER!) The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ('el computador'), because: 1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on; 2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves; 3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and 4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model. The women won.

Ethics Reasoning Test

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:  1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.  2. An old friend who once saved your life.  3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.  Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car? Think before you continue reading.  This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application. You could pick up the elderly woman, because she is going to die, and save her first. Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.     YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS.....................  The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. He simply answered: 'I would give the car  keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.'     Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations.  Never forget to 'Think Outside of the Box.'  HOWEVER...., The correct answer is to run the old lady over and put her out of her misery, have sex with the perfect partner on the hood of the car, then drive off with the old friend for a few beers.  God, I just love happy endings!

How sweet it is: 10 most popular Pinoy pasalubongs

History books and museums can help you learn about a country, but there's no better way to do so than through a plate (or banana leaf). We have a rich and diverse palate with versions of this and that here and there. Pasalubong stores dot every town, sometimes street after street. Here are some of the country's best sweet pasalubongs, which satisfy sugar cravings, aside from sweetening the general thinking-of-you sentiment of giving pasalubong.

LUZON

1. Pili tart from Bicol

Bicol produces the most pili in the country, to the extent that it's been named the province's flagship crop. The pili tart, which is just one of the many pili derivatives, is made from pili, flour, milk and sugar. A frequent pasalubong request, it is "crisp and soft, a mixture of textures," says Bicolana Ivy Vibar. This sweet and nutty pasalubong is available for P100 per five packs; each pack has five to six tarts. It's available in some malls in Manila like Market Market!

2. Inipit from Bulacan

One of the famed sweet delicacies of Bulacan is the inipit. These are little rectangles of chiffon, made from eggs, milk, sugar and butter, with filling. Custard, caramel and ube are the more popular filling flavors. It's yummy and surprisingly filling despite its lightweight appearance. You can also buy inipit in Manila. Eurobake in Guiguinto, Bulacan is one of the famous inipit sellers; lucky for you, it has branches in Greenbelt 1, Greenhills Shopping Center and Glorietta 4. A box of 10 pieces is P130, 25 pieces is P220, and 50 pieces is P420.

3. Yema cake from Quezon Province

Quezon Province is home to this deadly sounding yet not quite potent pasalubong. The yellow yema is not as sticky as your usual yema, but it still has that sweet kick. The yema acts as the icing and it is topped with grated cheese. The cake is actually just sponge cake which balances the overall taste. A party with this cake isn't complete without a fight over who gets to have the corner pieces which have the gooiest and cheesiest yema icing. Rodilla's Bakeshop in Tayabas, Quezon Province sells it every day for P350 to P450 per cake. In Manila, yema cake is available at Cordillera Coffee and Brewing Point.

4. Chocolate-covered polvoron from Tagaytay

Though there are a lot of polvoron sellers in Manila, Rowena's in Tagaytay still packs in the customers. By themselves, polvoron and chocolate sound good but when combined, you've got a sure winner. Black and white chocolate cover the cookies-and-cream-flavored polvoron. What's good about it is that the sweetness doesn't overwhelm you. Plus, the crunchiness of the little cookies gives it a nice texture. Make sure to try the other flavors like pinipig and casuy. Rowena's polvoron costs about P150 per pack which has about a dozen pieces.

VISAYAS

5. Peanut kisses from Bohol

Finally, edible chocolate hills! Though they're not really made from chocolate, these peanut kisses look like miniature versions of Bohol's Chocolate Hills. They have nothing to do with Hershey's but are equally, if not more lovable. Peanut kisses are made from peanuts, egg white, cane sugar and vanilla. Perfect for those who love nuts, its nutty taste is highlighted with just the right amount of sweetness. It's low cholesterol and goes with parfait, ice cream and fruit salads, according to the official peanut kisses website. Peanut kisses are available in Tagbilaran, Bohol and in selected airports. It comes in a variety of sizes with the smallest worth P20.

6. Binagol from Tacloban

Tacloban is famous for binagol, a sweet kakanin cooked in coconut shells or bagol, hence the name. The root crop talyan is the main star, which is mixed with coconut milk, sugar and peanuts. Banana leaves and strings wrap it up. It's sweet and with its size, it's meant to be shared. So far, binagol is only available in Tacloban, e.g. Dagami, for around P30 to P40.

7. Dried mango from Cebu

Dried mango is a staple Pinoy pasalubong that you can find in practically every store in the country. An oldie but a goodie, it will not fail to remind you of home with its chewy, sweet and sour taste. There are many brands to choose from like Cebu's Pride and 7D. You can get a small pack for about P100 or less.

MINDANAO

8. Vjandep pastel from Cagayan de Oro

Vjandep (pronounced Vandep) pastel is a dinner bun with yema-like filling. The name is a combination of the names of its inventors, Virgilio Jose and Elena Popera. The bun is made from the usual culprits: flour, sugar, eggs and shortening, but it's the filling that keeps people coming back for more. You can have the original one made from milk, butter and eggs, or try the other flavors like mango, cheese, langka, macapuno and more. Originally from Camiguin, it has branches in Cagayan de Oro and in Manila's SM supermarkets, Market Market! and Tiendesitas. In Cagayan de Oro, a dozen costs P115, while half costs P67. Those in Manila branches are about P100.

9. Durian candy from Davao

Originally from Lola Abon's in San Miguel Village, Davao, this delicacy gives you the love it or hate it flavor (and smell) of durian in a neat little package. Its smell is not as strong as the fruit but you will still be able to taste the essence of durian. It's now available in major supermarkets in Manila with a pack worth about P100.

10. Suman from Misamis Occidental

Found in the one and only House of Suman in Clarin, Misamis Occidental, this suman is hard to miss. Made from malagkit, pure coconut milk and sugar, it's sweet and comes in a variety of flavors like balintawak, suman latik and ibus. Enjoy the brown suman, brown because it's mixed with chocolate, with a hot cup of native chocolate.

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Eben B. Fabros

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Jonathan Swift  - "May you live every day of your life."

source: http://gmaseven.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-sweet-it-is-10-most-popular-pinoy.html

Milk: A Healthy Drink for Every Age

Milk: A Healthy Drink for Every Age Milk and milk products are great sources of the 16 essential nutrients needed for normal growth and health maintenance. These include calcium, folate, magnesium, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorous, potassium, proteins, riboflavin, selenium, thiamine, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and zinc. Many adults and older children who believe that milk is only for little kids don't know that they are depriving themselves of the most reliable source of calcium, which their bodies also need. Drink the recommended number of servings of milk and milk products a day for your age group. If you find it difficult to down a glass of pure milk, find ways to incorporate milk products in your diet instead. Are you getting enough milk? Ensure that you and your kids get the recommended daily servings of milk or its alternatives. Age group recommended servings per day 3 to 8 years 2 9 to 18 years 3 to 4 19 to 50 years        2 51 years and up 3 Take note that adding milk to your coffee or eating a piece of milk chocolate is not enough to meet your daily requirements for calcium and other essential nutrients. Get a better idea how much a serving looks like by referring to the following examples. One serving of milk and milk products provides approximately 300 mg of calcium. Products Serving equivalent Amount Milk, 1%, 2%, skim, whole 1 portion 250 ml or 1 cup Chocolate milk 1 portion 250 ml or 1 cup Firm cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, feta) 1 portion 50 g or 1 ½ oz. Unflavored or flavored yogurt 1 portion 175 g or ¾ cup Yogurt drink 1 portion 200 ml Getting the right amount of milk and milk products everyday is now quick, easy and convenient. Simply check out the dairy section at the supermarket and see which products will agree with you and your whole family. Milk facts The word "daily" or "per day" is very important in milk consumption because the human body absorbs calcium poorly when calcium is only given in occasional and massive doses. Thus, it is wise to consume milk and its alternatives in adequate quantities every day. Milk is an important source of protein, energy and several other essential nutrients that kids as well as adults require. A teenager's body is continuously evolving and undergoing major changes caused by growth and hormonal fluctuation. These young people need to be encouraged to consume more fruits, veggies and milk products regularly. Consumption of sufficient milk and milk products is very important during the adult years, too. Otherwise, you may decrease your own bone density and put yourself at a greater risk for osteoporosis later in life.

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source: http://www.nestle.com.ph/recipe/nestleclub/default.asp?s=article&t=milk