Its been this long but why..Thanks to the fact that singles are travelling more than ever- for work and for pleasure, plus the ever present popularity of online dating, more and more of us are finding ourselves caught up in long distance love affairs. It's no easy feat charming your beau from afar, but before you decide to trade your remote Romeo for a more local lover consider these tips:
Rule No. 1
Communicate in some way every day. To maintain an intimate connection with your babe you'll need to make each other feel involved in the everyday activities. Emails and text messages throughout the day, even if just a few lines, will go a long way in maintaining the warm and fuzzies. Don't forget the seemingly mundane details: filling him in on the ride to work this morning will let you both know that you're not missing out just because you may be more than just an area code away. Include cute snapshots to really make him feel in the know. Regular phone sessions will be crucial for more in-depth chatter. If marathon calls don't fit your budget, especially when you're saving for your next visit, consider phone cards, instant messaging programs, and Skype - a free online phone service you can take to the next level with the help of a webcam (and perhaps a strategically chosen outfit.)
Rule No. 2
Don't avoid the important questions. While you treasure your exchanges more than your latest shop splurge, don't ignore the big issues for fear of disturbing the peace. It's important for both of you to map out your game plan for the relationship. Plus, discussing your future will give you both hope that all of your efforts will pay off. Will you ever consider relocating in the future? Are you agreed that it's okay to date others? While possibly difficult and awkward to discuss, keeping your expectations crystal clear will save you from possible misunderstanding and heartache down the line. Just remember that while important questions are key, interrogations are not so apropos.
Rule No. 3
Consider yourself lucky. Before you drive your girls crazy whining about how much you miss your sweetie, consider the benefits. While everyone around you is complaining about their relationships losing that je ne sais quoi, you and your man are destined for a prolonged "honeymoon effect". Both of you will maintain a higher level of passion, since you're more likely to appreciate each other and not take your time together for granted. So when your average Jack and Jill are still arguing about toothpaste in the sink, you're more likely to be getting steamy between the sheets. Being far apart also allows you to maintain your individuality, something that often gets lost in the couple shuffle. Extra time to keep up with family, friends, and all your fave solo interests is not only a good distraction when loneliness sets in, but also ensures you stay as intriguing as when you first met.
Rule No. 4
Find creative ways to bond. Talk about things you would like to do together in the future, anything from making dinner together to visiting a special destination. If you're interested in seeing the same movie, watch them separately and discuss them together afterwards. Try doing the same with books and music. You can still have shard experiences, even if you're miles apart. The element of surprise can also go a long way. Sending unexpected notes and small tokens in the mail will no doubt brighten his day. Plus, what goes more perfectly with your après work cocktail than a surprise voicemail message from your crush?
Rule No. 5
Know when to call it quits. While this is tough if any relationship, it can be even harder to admit to after you've spent hundreds on airfare. Be honest with yourself when you feel like you or your man could be losing interest. Are things beginning to feel one-sided? Do arguments seem frequent and unfounded? Committing to a long-distance relationship is no easy endeavour, but when the whole thing seems more work than play, it's time to re-evaluate and possibly say your goodbyes. Overall, remain optimistic and focus on the positive points as much as possible. You'll most likely face more challenges together than most couples ever will. Just think, the bond you build while fighting to stay together will likely last long after the reunion...and the rest of your every day challenges will seem like a snap!
How come it takes you so long to come? Most sex books clock the male orgasm at about 3 to 5 minutes from time of erection, while women need at least 7 to10 minutes. Other factors to consider: women usually get a later start on this as young'uns, and we get easily distracted by things - like you being concerned about how long it's taking us to come. And it's just not as obvious with us. Sometimes you gotta prop up the hood and spend some time getting to know the engine, if you know what I mean.
Do you really fake it sometimes? And if so, why? Yes, we've all faked it. But most of us eventually realize it's a waste of time and energy. Sorry, but even your ego isn't worth it. Besides, it inevitably backfires when we realize we have to make the real thing live up to prior performances so we don't get caught. A trained professional will know the difference. If your partner gets up after and starts cleaning the windows or organizing her closet, she probably faked it. If she lies there limply with a stupid look on her face, drooling slightly, give yourself a pat on the back. As for why we fake it, well... the aforementioned ego, boredom and, once again, our concern that you are concerned that we are taking too long.
What does sperm taste like? Melted overripe brie - salted.
What does a female orgasm feel like? Good. Not unlike that full body rush you get when you're a kid on a swing and you drop your head back on the way down and then pull it up real fast when you swing forward. Though sometimes it's more subtle - more like a case of bad gas.
What does it feel like to have a period? Not good. Imagine feeling like someone has injected air in your abdomen and accidentally slipped some shards of glass in there while they were at it. Add a steady, dull ache and the occasional warm gush that feels like you just wet yourself, and that pretty much covers it. Oh yeah, sometimes it smells bad, too.
How come we can't blame your manic behaviour and inexplicable tears on PMS but you can? See, just because our manic behaviour might be explained by PMS, it might not be. That's our call. If you make the call, any legitimate bad feelings are undermined thus making us want to slug you. Besides, since we have to suffer most of our life with our period (see above), we get to make all the rules about it.
Why is intuition a female thing? It just is, I can feel it. One guy told me he suspected female intuition was a secret weapon to make men feel guilty and 'fess up to any crimes, since "she'll know anyway."
What's our big beef with testosterone? "It's like garlic to a vampire," one guy complained. "Women are always blaming shit on testosterone." Men have more testosterone and display proportionately more obnoxious, aggressive behaviour. You do the math. Admittedly, the too-much-testosterone explanation is becoming a bit clich, and I've been told, in fact, that the hormone is sometimes used to subdue overly aggressive behaviour. Perhaps we should let this one go and just blame stupid macho behaviour on men.
Who made you the experts on relationships? Why, we did, of course. Pretty smart, eh? Chalk it up to female intuition, but, quite simply, you guys just don't get it. If you would only see things our way, it really would make it all a lot easier.
Why can you objectify a man's body but get upset when we comment on how hot some chick is? Thousands of years of history.
Why do you ask if you look fat in an outfit when you don't really want to know? Yeah, that one's pretty much a no-win situation. If you say no, we think you're lying. If you say yes, you're dead. The best way to avoid this is to tell us we look great at all times.
Why do you love makeup? Recently, as I was dancing around the room after finding out that my TV work gets me 30-per-cent off MAC products, my boyfriend had visions of hard drives and screen savers. What can I say. Everyone knows women wear makeup for each other. In ancient matriarchal tribes, women painted their faces even when there were no men around. There you go, it's war paint. Plus, it's fun. And a great way to fake it when you look like shit.
How can you love shopping that much? As a full-fledged shopaholic, I like to think of shopping as more of an ongoing daily quest for the ultimate deal on the ultimate outfit. Each discovery is an achievement, each major score a skilled accomplishment. And yes, we really do need another pair of shoes.
Why do you go to the bathroom in pairs? So your friend can hand you some toilet paper under the stall because you have, once again picked the one with no paper. That, and because we must find out who each other wants to sleep with outside the bathroom and sort out any overlap so things don't get ugly later.
How come you can reject our sexual advances, yet when we say we're tired you sulk? This is your fault. You are the ones who perpetuate the idea that men want sex anytime, anywhere. Besides, most of us are still new at this taking-initiative thing. We're a little insecure still.
Do you really enjoy giving oral sex? As long as you let us control the rhythm and speed and don't start thrusting it down our throat, fellatio is fun. It helps if you don't smell like an old sock too.
Why do you get annoyed when we do nice things for you after you've asked why we don't do nice things for you more? Because we know you're only doing it because we told you. The trick is to not have to be asked; but if you must be asked, then the trick is to wait till we forget we asked and surprise us.
Why is it that when you want to talk about something we don't want to talk about you bug us until we talk about it, but when you don't want to talk about something we're supposed to respect that?
I don't want to talk about it.
If the droolingly awaited big-screen version of Twilight is any indication, sanpaku eyes are the new cheekbones. Marilyn Monroe and JFK both had sexy sanpakus (in which the white of the orb is strikingly visible below the iris), and so does Robert Pattinson, the young British heartthrob who plays Edward Cullen, Twilight's dreamy, sculpted hunk of a teenage vampire. With pasty skin, red lips, and those peepers that pop open wide with a touch of madness, Pattinson has a look so broodingly unearthly it's no wonder he doesn't sprout fangs. His creepy bedroom stare is a special effect all its own.
Here, as in Stephenie Meyer's 2005 novel, Edward is Romeo, Heathcliff, James Dean, and Brad Pitt all rolled into one: a scruffy-gorgeous bloodsucker pinup who is really an angelic protector. When Bella (Kristen Stewart), who has come to Forks, Wash., to live with her police-chief dad, sits next to Edward in biology class, he acts like he's suffering a seizure (or an attack of bad Mexican food). But it's only because he can barely control himself around her. It's no surprise that Bella tunes out the other kids, even as they try to befriend her. They don't make her tingle with the fear of her own desire. Edward, like any good vampire, has a predatory glamour. As Bella gets to know him, what's irresistible to her is that he promises not a blood consummation but its very opposite: a refusal to give in to the hunger that tempts him most.
For girls, the intense, ego-stroking appeal of Meyer's novel was the way that Bella becomes this undead Byronic stud's soul mate without quite knowing why she's worthy. She's a Kewl Generation damsel waiting to be rescued from her jaded heart. Stewart is an ideal casting choice — she conveys Bella's detachment, as well as her need to bust through it. And getting Catherine Hardwicke to direct Twilight was a shrewd move, because the youthquake specialist of Thirteen treats teen confusion without a trace of condescension: She gets their grand passions and prickly defense mechanisms. She has reconjured Meyer's novel as a cloudburst mood piece filled with stormy skies, rippling hormones, and understated visual effects. What Hardwicke can't quite triumph over is the book's lackluster plot. On screen, Twilight is repetitive and a tad sodden, too prosaic to really soar. But Hardwicke stirs this teen pulp to a pleasing simmer.Do you... have a problem with eye contact? Even if you love everything about this other person, it won't matter, if you can't take your eyes off their body parts. They'll likely think you're out for one thing, or that you're just kind of creepy. Sure, they might be wearing something revealing, but that's no excuse to stare all night long. Get a grip and get comfortable with eye contact, which creates a much better bond.
Do you... eat like a caveman? Utensils are there for a reason -- so you can eat like a gentleman. Shoveling food into your mouth is not something you should subject your date to. Same goes for talking while chewing. Not only is it unpleasant to watch at a time when your job is to be easy on the eyes, it's a red flag that says you're a little short on self-awareness -- an important characteristic in a mate.
Do you... trim your toenails? Not that your date will necessarily see your toenails right away, but when they do end up eyeballing them, unkept toenails are a guaranteed huge turnoff. It means you don't take care of yourself, and valuing yourself is an important part of a healthy relationship. Plus, let's not forget the damage they can do to the other person's leg when you're snuggling up on the sofa watching movies.
Do you... order "everything on the side" at a restaurant? In other words, do you order like a girl? Please don't. Because if your date has to be tortured by, "I'll have the Cobb salad, but no cheese, avocado, or bacon, and dressing on the side, and the pasta, but no oil please, and extra light on the pinenuts," they may be forced to hide under the table or at least wonder what kind of demanding partner you could be. If you have dietary restrictions, do your best, just don't get into what will happen to your belly if you don't follow them.
Do you... assume you're going to strike out? The Secret said it once but we'll say it again: In a lot of ways, you manifest your own destiny. So, if you have lots of thoughts about being unlucky in love, you may be pushing people away in ways you may not even know. If you assume the worst of the world and yourself, spend a few minutes before your date making a mental list of why you're looking for a relationship and why you are an incredible a catch.This time, I wonder what it feels like,
To find the one in this life,
The one we all dream of,
But dreams aren't just not enough.
So I'll be waiting for the real thing,
I'll know it by the feeling,
The moment when we're meeting,
Will play out like a scene,
Straight off the silver screen,
So I'll be holding my own breath,
Right up 'til the end,
Until the moment when,
I'll find the one that
I'll spend forever with.
'Cause nobody wants to be last one there,
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares,
Someone to love with my life in their hands,
There's gotta be somebody for me like that,
'Cause nobody wants to do it on their own,
And everyone wants to know they're not alone,
There's Somebody else that feels the same somewhere,
There's gotta be somebody for me out there.
Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight,
And damnit this feels too right,
It's just like deja'vu,
Me standing here with you,
So i'll be holdling my own breath,
Could this be the end,
Is it that moment when,
I'll find the one that I'll spend forever with.
'Cause nobody wants to be last one there,
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares,
Someone to love with my life in their hands,
There's gotta be somebody for me like that,
'Cause nobody wants to do it on their own,
And everyone wants to know they're not alone,
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere,
There's gotta be somebody for me out there.
You can't give up,
Looking for a diamond in the rough,
(Because you'll never know)
When it shows up,
(Make sure you're holding on)
'Cause it could it be the one,
The one you're waiting on.
'Cause nobody wants to be last one there,
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares,
Someone to love with my life in there hands,
There's gotta be somebody for me, ohhhhh,
Nobody wants to do it all on their own,
And everyone wants to know they're not alone,
There's Somebody else that feels the same somewhere,
There's gotta be somebody for me out there,
Nobody wants to be last one there,
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares,
There's Somebody else that feels the same somewhere,
There's gotta be somebody for me out there.
The legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai is a beautiful, doleful, and moving love story .The story is set in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
It begins with a beautiful, intelligent young woman named Zhu Yingtai from Shangyu, Zhejiang, who is the ninth child and the only daughter of the wealthy noble Zhu family. After much effort, she convinced her father to let her disguise herself as a young man traveling to Hangzhou to study. During her journey, she encountered Liang Shanbo, a scholar from Kuaiji (會稽, Kuàijī, now known as Shaoxing), in the same province. They felt like old friends at the first meeting. Therefore, they gathered some soil as incense and took vows of brotherhood in the pavilion of a thatched bridge.
For the three years in school, they shared the same room where there was only one bed and two quilts. Yingtai slowly fell in love with Shanbo. Although being every bit Yingtai's equal in studies, Shanbo was a bookworm and did not see any traces of female characteristics in Yingtai.
Time flew by quickly. Three years passed, and one day Yingtai received a letter from her father asking her to return home as quickly as possible. Yingtai had no alternative but to pack her belongings immediately and bid farewell. In Yingtai’s heart, she had decided that even if heaven and earth passed away, her love for Liang Shanbo would never change, and she wanted to be with him for all eternity. Hence, before her departure, Yingtai revealed her true identity to her headmaster's wife and requested the headmaster’s wife to hand her jade pendant as a betrothal gift to Shanbo.
Liang Shanbo, being Yingtai’s sworn brother, accompanied Yingtai for 18 miles to send her off. During the journey, Yingtai hinted to Shanbo that she was a girl. For example, she compared themselves to a pair of mandarin ducks, but Shanbo did not catch onto her hidden meaning and did not even have the slightest suspicion that she was a girl. Finally Yingtai thought of an idea: she told Shanbo that she would be a matchmaker and match make Shanbo with her sister. Before the two parted, Yingtai reminded Shanbo to pay a visit to her house so that he can propose a marriage to her "sister" (who was really herself). Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai reluctantly took leave of each other at the pavilion where they had first met.
When Shanbo arrived at Yingtai’s home, he discovered her true gender. They were devoted to and passionate about each other, and the lovers vowed that if they cannot live together, they will die together. The joy of the reunion of the two came to an end when Yingtai told Shanbo that her parents had forced her to marry Ma Wencai (馬文才, Mǎ Wéncái), a rich and spoiled gentleman.
Liang Shanbo was heartbroken. His health slowly deteriorated until he became seriously ill and later died in his office as a county magistrate.
On the day Yingtai was to be married to Ma Wencai, whirlwinds prevented the wedding procession from escorting Yingtai beyond Shanbo’s tomb. Yingtai left the procession to pay her respects for Shanbo. Yingtai descended in bitter despair and begged the grave to open up. Suddenly there was a clap of thunder, and the tomb opened as Yingtai had wished. Without hesitation, Yingtai leapt into the grave to join her beloved Shanbo. Yingtai and Shanbo's spirits had turned into a pair of beautiful butterflies and emerged from the tomb, flying together among the flowers forever, never to be apart again.
** i really love this story of true love and how love really conquers all.
NAMED OUTSTANDING SENATOR BY:
• Trade Union Congress of the Philippines
• SBN 336, Magna Carta for the Urban Poor
• Philippine Graphic Weekly Magazine
• Philippine Reporter Magazine
• Public Eye Magazine
• Emil Jurado, Manila Standard Columnist
OUTSTANDING LEGISLATOR
• Garnered the biggest number of votes in Philippine history (1995 elections) -- an unparalleled 16 million. Another record that was set is the margin of votes between the first and second placer, which is approximately 3.2 million. This record still stands in the senate.
• Filed over 400 Senate Bills and Resolutions
• Authored or co-authored 55 bills signed into law of socio-economic legislation. These laws constituted the core of the economic program of President Fidel Ramos -- laws that have brought our country to the status of Asia's next tiger.
• Ranked No. 1 in a public opinion survey of performance and awareness among incumbent Senators
• Cited by Asia Week as one of Asia's most powerful women
• Selected Woman of the Year by the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines
FOR A BETTER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
• RA 7844, The Export Development Act
• RA 7718, The Amended Build-Operate-Transfer Law
• RA 7843, Strengthening the Anti-Dumping Provisions
• RA 8179, Further liberalizing Foreign Investments
• RA 7721, Liberalizing banking in the Philippines
• RA 7651, Revitalizing and strengthening the Bureau of Customs
• RA 7916, Creating the Philippine Economic Zone Authority
• RA 7640, Constituting the Legislative-Executive Development Council
• RA 1490, Investment Houses Act (Passed on third reading)
• RA 7661, Extending the Life of the Asset Privatization Trust
• RA 7903, Creating the Zamboanga Special Economic Zone
• SBN 345, Promoting the Development of Interisland Shipping
• SBN 358, Development of Micro and Cottage Industries
FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
• RA 7882, Providing assistance to women engaging in micro and cottage business enterprises
• Women's desk to provide assistance to battered wives and other victims of domestic violence
• RA 7877, Declaring sexual harassment unlawful in the employment, education or training environment and for other purposes
• SBN 356, Increasing penalties for wife-beating
• SBN 362, Mandatory employment of women
• Establishment of the Movement Against Sexual Abuse (MASA)
FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
• OCW desk to provide assistance to OCWs and their families
• RA 7833, Excluding the 13th Month Pay and Other Benefits from the Computation of Taxable Income
• RA 7654, Allocating a Portion of the Incremental Revenue Collected for the Emergency Employment Program
• RA 7637, Creating the Mt. Pinatubo Assistance, Resettlement and Development Commission
• RA 7657, Appropriating 10 Billion Pesos for the victims of Mt. Pinatubo Eruption
• RA 7906, Regulation of the Organization and Operations of Thrift Banks
• RA 8182, Excluding the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Foreign Debt Limit in order to facilitate the absorption and optimize the utilization of ODA resources
• RA 7820, Creating the Partido Development Administration in Bicol region
• SBN 1176, Establishing Computer Literacy Program in all public schools at the secondary level
• SBN 1175, Instituting a Public School Teachers Scholarship Program
• SBN 1728, Ancestral Domain Bill
• SBN 1044, Institutionalizing a National Strategy for Poverty Alleviation
• SBN 336, Magna Carta for the Urban Poor
FOR AGRICULTURE & THE ENVIRONMENT
• RA 7900, Promoting the production, processing, marketing and distribution of high-value crops
• RA 8175. Amending the Charter of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation in order to make more stable and beneficial to farmers and the national economy
• RA 7942, Instituting a new system of mineral resources exploration, development, utilization and conservation
• Co-host, "Dighay Bayan" TV program catering to farmers
• Pres. Macapagal Awards for best rice farm cooperative
• SBN 1282, Food Security Buffer Stock Bill
• SBN 2046, Amending the Sugar Restitution Law
• RA 7638, Creating the Department of Energy
*** honestly speaking, for a person who never grew up in the Philippines but outside the country itself i cant help but feel that Filipinos here are so narrow minded ( some of them ) sadly to say whenever you see people doing a rally of some sort and just ask one of these people some will say they are there for the sake of free food, entertainment or just there for money. yeah! i know that we have such freedom to do this kind of thing but some are totally clueless about what is really going on. I just find it so "stupid" when some of these people say "bring down Arroyo!" yes! i understand that but who will you put instead?! im not saying that she is all prefect too but ever think of this since she has been the leader of the country so many changes has happen! and the debt that our country has been suffering for such a long time is slowly being paid of! so which Leader of this country has done that so far?!
BERLIN - An American man who suffered from AIDS appears to have been cured of the disease 20 months after receiving a targeted bone marrow transplant normally used to fight leukemia, his doctors said Wednesday.
While researchers - and the doctors themselves - caution that the case might be no more than a fluke, others say it may inspire a greater interest in gene therapy to fight the disease that claims two million lives each year. The virus has infected 33 million people worldwide.
Dr. Gero Huetter said his 42-year-old patient, an American living in Berlin who was not identified, had been infected with the AIDS virus for more than a decade. But 20 months after undergoing a transplant of genetically selected bone marrow, he no longer shows signs of carrying the virus.
"We waited every day for a bad reading," Huetter said.
It has not come. Researchers at Berlin's Charite hospital and medical school say tests on his bone marrow, blood and other organ tissues have all been clean.
However, Dr. Andrew Badley, director of the HIV and immunology research lab at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said those tests have probably not been extensive enough.
"A lot more scrutiny from a lot of different biological samples would be required to say it's not present," Badley said.
This isn't the first time marrow transplants have been attempted for treating AIDS or HIV infection. In 1999, an article in the journal Medical Hypotheses reviewed the results of 32 attempts reported between 1982 and 1996. In two cases, HIV was apparently eradicated, the review reported.
Huetter's patient was under treatment at Charite for both AIDS and leukemia, which developed unrelated to HIV.
As Huetter - who is a hematologist, not an HIV specialist - prepared to treat the patient's leukemia with a bone marrow transplant, he recalled that some people carry a genetic mutation that seems to make them resistant to HIV infection. If the mutation, called Delta 32, is inherited from both parents, it prevents HIV from attaching itself to cells by blocking CCR5, a receptor that acts as a kind of gateway.
"I read it in 1996, coincidentally," Huetter told reporters at the medical school. "I remembered it and thought it might work."
Roughly one in 1,000 Europeans and Americans have inherited the mutation from both parents, and Huetter set out to find one such person among donors that matched the patient's marrow type. Out of a pool of 80 suitable donors, the 61st person tested carried the proper mutation.
Before the transplant, the patient endured powerful drugs and radiation to kill off his own infected bone marrow cells and disable his immune system - a treatment fatal to between 20 and 30 per cent of recipients.
He was also taken off the potent drugs used to treat his AIDS. Huetter's team feared that the drugs might interfere with the new marrow cells' survival. They risked lowering his defences in the hopes that the new mutated cells would reject the virus on their own.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases in the U.S., said the procedure was too costly and too dangerous to employ as a first-line cure. But he said it could inspire researchers to pursue gene therapy as a means to block or suppress HIV.
"It helps prove the concept that if somehow you can block the expression of CCR5, maybe by gene therapy, you might be able to inhibit the ability of the virus to replicate," Fauci said.
David Roth, a professor of epidemiology and international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said gene therapy as cheap and effective as current drug treatments is in very early stages of development.
"That's a long way down the line because there may be other negative things that go with that mutation that we don't know about."
For the patient in Berlin, the lack of a clear understanding of exactly why his AIDS has disappeared means his future is far from certain.
"The virus is wily," Huetter said. "There could always be a resurgence."
**Upon reading this article i suddenly felt how advance our knowledge of science and technology has truly is become something to look forward to. Such excitement for a nerdy person like me truly this is. =)
