pay it forward

i just want to share this story with you. tho some of you may have already heard it but i cant get enough of hearing this over and over again -- it still gives me goosebumps (in a good way!)

********************************************************************************

an old woman was travelling to another city when she gets hungry and decides to stop by a diner on the side of the road. she sees a pregnant waitress (her tummy already about 6 months) , balancing food trays in her hand, sweating and tired yet still managing to smile at the customers. when the waitress came to her table, the old woman named Nancy, made small talk with the waitress. she could see the sincerity in her eyes, but it also showed her the strength and determination of a woman and a mother-to-be.

she found out her name was Alison, that her baby was due in 3 months and that she was still working to save up for the cost of giving birth since her husband didnt have a stable job and only did construction work and was a car mechanic. then it was time to go; Nancy asked for the bill. the old woman decides to pay her due, add a few hundred dollars as tip and left a note for Alison saying : "this is for your goodness and for your baby. i wish you well. dont bother to find me, instead concentrate on how you can pay it forward."

Nancy left the diner and continued on her way. she decided to take a shortcut since it was already getting late and she figured out the shortcut would help her arrive faster. unfortunately her car broke down in the middle of nowhere. all she could see was shrubs, the place was deserted. it was one of those routes that vehicles seldom took. one thing was clear : she was definitely not on the highway anymore.

night fell and all she could do was sob inside her car. then she heard footsteps, faint at first but getting louder by the second. then she made out the silhouette of a man walking towards her. she feared for her life because the man might be a murderer for all she knows and she cant get help since there was no service on her mobile fone. but then she saw the man's face -- she suddenly felt at peace when she looked into the man's eyes. He introduced himself as Brian. he offered to take a look at the car since he was a mechanic. Nancy was skeptic at first but she decided to let him be, with her staying inside her car.

After a few hours, Brian finally got her car to start. She was about to hand a wad of cash to the man who had saved her but Brian would not accept it. He said helping someone simply fulfilled him and gave him happiness. So Nancy thanked him and drove off into the night.

meanwhile, Alison went home at the end of her shift feeling happy but somewhat puzzled by the old woman's message. she was wondering how she was going to "pay it forward". after keeping the money she received from Nancy in a safe place and preparing supper for her husband who still wasnt home, Alison decides to write a letter for him. It said : "baby, thank you for the happiness you have given me. i know we are in a tough time right now but i want you to know that everything is going to be alright with us and; our baby. with god in our lives, i know we can make it."

She fell asleep waiting for her husband. In the middle of the night when Nancy turned to her side, she felt the warm breathing of his husband near her. She simply embraced him and said "I love you Brian."

*************************

it just amazes me to think that our lives are all intertwined with one another tho we may not know it but you know someone that i know, one good deed benefits the same set of people we know. lesson learned -- an act of kindness goes a long way. (~~,)

Order in the Court !

These are from a book called Disorder in the Courts of America, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?

WITNESS: No, I just lie there.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?

WITNESS: July 18th.

ATTORNEY: What year?

WITNESS: Every year.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?

WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: How old is your son, the one living with you?

WITNESS: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.

ATTORNEY: How long has he lived with you?

WITNESS: Forty-five years.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?

WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"

ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?

WITNESS: My name is Susan.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?

WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?

WITNESS: Would you repeat the question?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?

WITNESS: Uh...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: How many were boys?

WITNESS: None.

ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?

WITNESS: By death.

ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?

WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.

ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?

WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?

WITNESS: Oral.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?

WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.

ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?

WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy on him!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: So then, it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?

WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

ATTORNEY: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?

WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

Melanisms

Asked not so long ago what she had to say
about "sex and violence" in the movies, a popular actress said,
"Piano nga hindi ako marunong tumugtog, violins pa kaya?"

Hmmmmm. Witty? Yes - if she intended
that "quotable" to be so.

No, the actress "spokening" wasn't Melanie
Marquez who, like that one, is a self-confessed Madame Malaprop.
(Note: Malapropism, meaning "a ludicrous misuse of a word," is derived from Mrs.
Malaprop, a character in the play The Rivals by Richard B. Sheridan, 1751-1816)

I love my long-legged friend Melanie for, among other reasons (besides her
fractured English), her way of unwittingly amusing and regaling us with her,
that's it, malapropisms on national television.

During the passionate word war between her half-brother Joey Marquez
and Kris Aquino, Melanie provided the "comic relief" by mouthing quotables, thus
firming up her reputation as the (uncrowned) Quotable Queen.

The good thing about it is that Melanie herself
is amused/regaled by those little jewels tumbling out of her mouth, profusely
especially when she's angry. She told me that she would have her TV
guestings recorded and once she got home, she'd have a fun time watching
the tapes and, yes, laughing at herself.

That's the spirit, 'no?

"Bakit," Melanie said during an interview.
"'Yung magagaling mag-English diyan, may Miss International title ba sila?"

Oo nga naman. Mayroon ba kayo?

Don't look now but Melanie is seriously thinking
of  compiling her "Melanisms" into a neat little book like the
pocket-size Mao little red book (of quotations, or Maoisms).
Nice idea, isn't it?

It should be a best-seller (like President Joseph Estrada's Eraptions).

When Melanie told me about it, I suggested
that she jazz up the book with cartoons and call it Quote Me.
But wait. Don't judge Melanie just yet
because, as we all know, she's not a book.

Here and now, my friend Jonathan Chua (who's
a STAR contributor) has compiled some Melanisms for inclusion in that
much-awaited book, to wit:

. My brother is not a girl; he's a gentleman.

. That's why I'm a success, it's because I don't
middle in other people's lives.

. Don't judge my brother; he's not a book.

. I won't stoop down to my level.

. Hello? Bulag ka ba? Bingi ka ba? Are you dep?

. 'Yung STD, baka sa maruming toilet lang niya
nakuha yan.

. Eh, ikaw ba naman, durugin ang ari mo... Pag
di ka naman manutok ng baril.

. We are lovers, not fighters.

. Kapatid ko pa rin siya. We are one and the
same.

. I don't eat meat. I'm not a carnival.

. Eto na po ang pinakamaligayang pasko at
manigong taon sa inyong lahat.
(During her acceptance speech at a Metro
Filmfest awards night where her
bioflick, directed by her late father Temyong
Marquez, won an award.)

. Sumasakit ang migraine ko.

. Ang tatay ko ang only living legend na buhay!

. Period na talaga; wala nang exclamation
point.
(When asked on S-Files if her present husband, Adam Lawyer, is her Mr.
Right.).

. At a talk show after her break-up with Derek
Dee, Melanie was asked if she
had some words for Derek's mother (whom she
partly blamed for the separation).
"Oo nga," said Melanie, "pero i-English-in ko para maintindihan
niya." She looked into the camera and, with the peremptoriness of royalty,
said, "And to you, Mrs. Dee, I have two words for you. Ang labo mo!"

A few more:

- When asked for a message to her daughter
who was allegedly abused by their houseboy:
"Don't worry little angel, big angel is here."

- On what they should do to the houseboy who
molested her kid: "He should be put behind bar."

- "You can fool me once, you can even fool me
twice, you can even fool me thrice. But you can never fool me four"

- While waiting backstage during a noontime
show, after watching Nikki Valdez do her dance number. "Nikki, you're so
galing. You should go to the States. You will sell hotcakes"



May the Force Be With Us.

Office - Related

MEMORANDUM TO ALL EMPLOYEES :

SICK DAYS:
We will no longer accept a doctor
statement as proof of sickness. If you
are able to go to the doctor, you are
able to come to work.

SURGERY:
Operations are now banned. As long as
you are an employee here, you need all
your organs. You should not consider
removing anything. We hired you intact.
To have something removed constitutes a
breach of employment.

PERSONAL DAYS:
Each employee will receive 104 personal
days a year. They are called Saturday
and Sunday.

VACATION DAYS:
All employees will take their vacation
at the same time every year. The
vacation days are as follows: Jan. 1,
July 4 & Dec. 25

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE:
This is no excuse for missing work.
There is nothing you can do for dead
friends, relatives or coworkers. Every
effort should be made to have
non-employees attend to the
arrangements. In rare cases where
employee involvement is necessary, the
funeral should be scheduled in the late
afternoon. We will be glad to allow you
to work through your lunch hour and
subsequently leave one hour early,
provided your share of the work is done
enough.

OUT FROM YOUR OWN DEATH:
This will be accepted as an excuse.
However, we require at least two weeks
notice, as it is your duty to train your
own replacement.

RESTROOM USE:
Entirely too much time is being spent in
the restroom. In the future, we will
follow the practice of going in
alphabetical order. For instance, all
employees whose names begin with 'A'
will go from 8:00 to 8:20, employees
whose names begin with 'B' will go from
8:20 to 8:40 and so on. If you're unable
to go at your allotted time, it will be
necessary to wait until the next day
when your turn comes again. In extreme
emergencies employees may swap their
time with a coworker. Both employees'
supervisors in writing must approve this
exchange. In addition, there is now a
strict 3-minute time limit in the
stalls. At the end of three minutes, an
alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll
will retract, and the stall door will open.

LUNCH BREAK:
Skinny people get an hour for lunch as
they need to eat more so that they can
look healthy, normal size people get 30
minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal
to maintain the average figure. Fat
people get 5 minutes for lunch because
that's all the time needed to drink a
Slim Fast and take a diet pill. Sondra
gets none.

DRESS CODE:
It is advised that you come to work
dressed according to your salary, if we
see you wearing $350 Prada sneakers and
carrying a $600 Gucci bag we assume you
are doing well financially and therefore
you do not need a raise.

Thank you for your loyalty to our
company. We are here to provide a
positive employment experience.
Therefore, all questions comments,
concerns, complaints, frustrations,
irritations, aggravations, insinuations,
allegations, accusations,
contemplations, consternations or input
should be directed elsewhere. Have a
nice week.

-- MANAGEMENT

Why Technical Support People Get Paid So Dearly

Tech Support: I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop.
Customer: Ok.
Tech Support: Did you get a pop-up menu?
Customer: No.
Tech Support: Ok. Right click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?
Customer: No.
Tech Support: Ok, sir. Can you tell me what you have done up until
this point?
Customer: Sure, you told me to write 'click' and I wrote 'click.

===============

Customer: Do I need a computer to use your software?
Tech Support: ?!%#$

===============

Tech Support: Ok, in the bottom left hand side of the screen, can you
see the 'OK' button displayed?
Customer: Wow. How can you see my screen from there?

===============

Tech Support: What type of computer do you have?
Customer: A white one.

===============

Tech Support: Type 'A:' at the prompt.
Customer: How do you spell that?

===============

Tech Support: What's on your screen right now?
Customer: A stuffed animal that my boyfriend got me at the grocery store.

===============

Tech Support : How can I help you?
Customer: My computer's telling me I performed an illegal abortion.

===============

Tech Support : What kind of browser are you using?
Customer: I have Microsoft Exploder.

===============

Tech Support : How may I assist you today?
Customer: How do I print my voicemail?

===============

Customer: You've got to fix my computer. I urgently need to print a document, but the computer won't boot properly.
Tech Support: What does it say?
Customer: Something about an error and non-system disk.
Tech Support: Look at your machine. Is there a floppy inside?
Customer: No, but there's a sticker saying there's an Intel inside.

===============

Tech Support: Just call us back if there's a problem. We're open 24 hours.
Customer: Is that Eastern time?

===============

Tech Support: What does the screen say now?
Customer: It says, 'Hit ENTER when ready'.
Tech Support: Well then.. .what's the problem?
Customer: How do I know when it's ready?

To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity...

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.


2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice!


3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, ask If They Want Fries with that.


4. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.


5. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write 'For Marijuana'


6. Finish All Your sentences with 'In Accordance With The Prophecy.'


7. Skip down the hall rather than Walk and see how many looks you get.


8. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.


9 . Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go.'


10. Sing Along At The Opera.


11. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area and Play tropical Sounds All Day.


12. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You have a headache.


13. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, scream 'I Won! I Won!'


14 . When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, Yelling 'Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!'


15. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, 'Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go.'

Smile. It's Called . THERAPY

Get Informed and Updated

The H1N1 flu virus is widespread around the world and the World Health Organization (WHO ) has declared it as a pandemic influenza virus.

It is contagious and spreads the same way as the seasonal flu. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the germs enter the eyes, nose or throat of another person, thus spreading the virus. Although it is commonly called "Swine Flu", it is not possible to catch it by eating pork or other pork products according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Canadians should continue to take normal precautions to protect themselves as they would from a regular flu. Contrary to what we saw when the outbreak started, the Public Health Agency of Canada does not recommend that the general public wear surgical masks to protect against contracting H1N1 Flu Virus. Evidence shows that this is not effective in preventing transmission of influenza in the general public. People often use masks incorrectly, or contaminate themselves when putting masks on and taking them off, which could actually increase the risk of infection.

Some of the ways to protect yourself :

• Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water
• Resist the urge to touch your face
• Cough or sneeze into your arm
• Get the vaccine. The government has purchased 50.4 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine
• Keep common surfaces clean
• A good diet and exercise to keep the body strong
• Talk to your doctor

For more FAQ's visit the site http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/faq_rg_h1n1-eng.php

Travel Wishlist

Santorini, Greece

Côte d' Azur St. Tropez

Osaka, Japan

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Paris, France

New York City, USA

London, England

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Centro Havana, Cuba

Taj Mahal, India

Madonna in Malawi

Madonna has raised $11 million from Brazilian millionaires for her Raising Malawi Foundation (started in 2006). The pop star visited Brazil and is reported to have gotten a pledge for an undisclosed sum of money from the country's richest man -- Ike Batista, a mining magnate with a fortune of an estimated $7.5 billion.

Madonna, 51, has two adoptive children from Malawi. She was accompanied during her fund-raising by 22-year-old Brazilian model Jesus de Luz.

"Fox" vs. Fox

Is Megan Fox emulating Angelina Jolie? You be the judge.

Ladies in Leather

Identical Inks

Gorgeous Gams

Duplicate Dresses

Perfect Pouts

Both in Black

A-List Action Stars

High School Hotties

Wonders in White

Daring Do's

Women Who Don't Wed

Golden Goddesses

On-Set Style Solidarity


and of course... this --




a penchant for older men...



I think she could do better; its time for Megan to find her own "Brad Pitt"



Only one more thing left to do --
say... steal this guy married guy perhaps? lol

I can totally see it : Channing Tatum emulates Brad Pitt.




Give it time; it took Angie a while to realize it too.
Now that's what I call soul mates. Haha.

--Photos from US Magazine

Philippine Politics

I have been in Canada for two years now, and when I learned that Noli de Castro was the current Vice President of the Philippines I was flabbergasted. I asked my friend, "What has he done for our country so far?" She said "Nothing. I have given up on the Political system here." Maybe the Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas tandem isn't such a bad idea after all.

Being a Pol Sci Undergrad from the University of San Carlos Cebu, I want to be updated on what is going on with the Philippine government. We recently subscribed to TFC and it was then that I learned the recent events.

From the RP's President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her family being involved in scandals and questionable monetary affairs, to ex-President Joseph Ejercito "Erap Estrada" seemingly wanting a second chance at the Presidency. This, coming from an ousted leader with fraudulent deeds and an Impeachment trial that rocked the entire country and the world.

It saddens me to ask this question but, "WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?"

We need more informed voters. The fact that the masses are voting for these movie stars and celebrities clearly shows that. And all these TRAPO's** are scrambling to maintain power by instilling their offsprings into office as well. Our country has had a bloody Political past -- I surely hope those previous People Power Revolutions don't go to waste and all those heroes didn't die in vain.

**Traditional Politicians

Pacquiao wins TKO over Cotto

Saturday November 14 2009 - MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.


Manny Pacquiao claimed the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from Miguel Angel Cotto.


For the first few rounds Cotto came out stronger than expected, but got knocked down in the 3rd and 4th rounds. But from the 5th round going forward he remained fighting, if only to fend off Pacquiao's powerful punches. During the 11th round the fight was almost stopped, as Joe Santiago, Cotto's trainer, signaled to referee Kenny Bayless. But Cotto wished to fight until the end, and for that he has earned our respect. For the 12th and final round it only took 55 seconds into the fight for Bayless to jump in and stop it.


The crowd went wild, as did most Filipino onlookers from around the world.





Cotto's lips were swollen and his face was bleeding profusely, as Pacquiao was never knocked down and emerged from the fight with only a few scratches and bumps on his face.


Pacquiao has now won officially sanctioned belts in five divisions and has been regarded as a champion in seven.


“I think he is the greatest fighter I have seen,” said the 78 yr old Top Rank Chief Bob Arum. “Certainly the greatest of this era. There was a time in this country when boxing was mainstream, it really mattered, and Manny is helping to bring that back."


“Don’t be afraid to put this guy up there with the greats,” said trainer Freddie Roach. “What he is doing just doesn’t happen these days and boxing is lucky to have him."


“It is not for me to say where I am in the history of boxing,” said Pacquiao. “I just try to win my fights and represent my country. I don’t think too much about these things.”