52Photos Project #16: Dessert

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Cinnamon rolls.  Perfect with coffee. Coffee without sugar preferably.  Perfect after each sumptuous dinner.  Dinner that is not that heavy leaving a space in your tummy for desserts like these.

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The Gallery is open.  Visit what the others have here.

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Military Rings as Gifts?

Wny not?  If the man of your dreams, or your better half belongs to the military, why would a military army rings be not perfect?

When I was little, still in the primary grades, I had always wondered what those bulky rings are made of and why they look the way they are.  Reaching high school, I saw our commandant wearing one of those rings.  I was not aware until that time that they symbolize one’s affiliation to the military.

Back to the question – military rings as gifts? Why not?

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Photohunt: Neat

After the chaos from the super typhoon in the country, I guess what every one wishes is order, and also a neat place and situation to live in.

I chose this photo as it conveys simplicity with a substance – a true depiction of neat.from Kay's camera 123012 169photohunt-label

I am still fazed with how the government dealt with the tragedy that befell the country but I am trying to pray and hope that things will be better, that with a ray of hope, each of those affected will be able to rise, with the whole of the citizenry helping, and with the aid coming from other countries.

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Why Criticism is Necessary

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Criticism (Photo credit: Celestine Chua)

While reading my FB friends’ posts which consist mostly of updates about super typhoon Yolanda, I noticed an update of a UP professor that I had been following, that says:

Because of my posts, many people are asking why am I criticizing the government when the priority is to help. We should never oppose assistance with critique. Our assistance should be compassion with justice. Without CNN Anderson Cooper’s criticism of relief operation, Korina Sanchez would have not gone to Tacloban; without the victims complaining themselves, the government would have continued its failed response, without the vigilance and criticism against government bureaucracy the relief good would have been hijacked and used for political purposes. And when we wait til the rehabilitation is over to voice out our criticisms, we will only get frustrated for the criminals had already fooled the people and entrenched themselves in their thrones. Help now, criticize later –the mantra of those in power.” – Gerry Lanuza

Most pro-PNoys, those who stood aloof because they have everything, and those who are wont to just keep silent even if a bad situation requires one to say something against, had also broken their silence by telling that what is needed from everyone else now is to help and not attack each other, not to wage war against our fellowmen, and not to berate the President and his officials.  Now that is some criticism, too, though some are unfounded, because we know for a fact that the sharpest criticisms come from those who are on the ground, and who had given a lot to help, and from those who had been trying hard to reach the afflicted in the quickest possible time.  But they help in ways making everybody be on guard of the words that come out – if they are already personal or ‘trollish’ and not constructive.

Criticisms connote the good and the bad but they are necessary.  If we go back to Prof. Lanuza’s post, it helps that there are people bold enough to say something about inconsistencies, irregularities, abnormalities, superficialities, impartialities, and all ‘ties and ‘ies that define evil in the midst of a tragedy such as this brought by the supertyphoon Yolanda.

I thought of expounding this but I just want to say it as simple as it is – criticisms are necessary, as Winston Churchill said:

Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.

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Saving Space with a Cowbell Stacker

Percussion instruments in the Musical Instrume...
Percussion instruments in the Musical Instrument Museum, Brussels, Belgium. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are a musician who loves percussion instruments, it would help you to save space buying an accessory like the pearl cowbell at musicians friend that gives room for anybody to stack other pieces of percussion instruments like a bell, block, or tambourine. In addition, this accessory can be mounted horizontally or vertically.

This will work for me because saving space is always a welcome idea. I believe, too, that this idea of an accessory will be useful to a lot of percussion musicians to maximize space and organize things.

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52Photos Project #14: Round

52photosbutton-1-14This is a big plate of round(ed) fruits.  Here in the Philippines, every New Year’s eve, there has to be a bowl or plate or basket that holds twelve (12) round(ed) fruits for good luck.  Other families exaggerate it by buying twelve pieces for each of the twelve (12) fruits gathered.  It always makes me wonder where this belief came from.  Some say it is a Chinese belief, some say it dates back to the time of our ancestors. Unfortunately, I am not a believer but I find arranging these round(ed) fruits on a platter very fitting for the holidays.

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Photohunt: Musical

In 2010, we went to a ballroom party and witnessed a lot of musical dance performances but what caught our attention is the performance of a not so young but no so old woman and her dance instructor.  I could not remember the beat, if it was tango or cha-cha, but it was a very mesmerizing performance that caught everybody’s attention.  I learned later that the woman is a champion in many ballroom dance competitions.

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photohunt-labelShe looked so elegant and truly graceful.  She must be very strong and healthy to perform so fluid with the music.

Check out the others here.

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Experiencing Lam Tin Again

We were much in a vacation mood that’s why we prefer to eat out instead of preparing food for lunch after Eternal Gardens yesterday, November 1. Papsie wanted to try Lam Tin again because he craves for Chinese food.  Also, the children are hesitant to experiment Chinese at other restaurants because for them nothing beats Lam Tin for its savory but very affordable and delectable dishes. So off we went.  The excitement and anticipation never waned, almost died seeing food establishments along the way closed for business, and was up again upon seeing that Lam Tin was open to serve food.  As usual, there were a lot of customers/patrons.

Funny, that it was the Yang Chao fried rice that came first.  One can actually eat the rice without the viand.

november 1 003Then comes second was the pork asado with atsara (not in the picture).  It was so tender and the sauce has sesame seeds giving a distinct flavor to the dish.november 1 005It was the sweet and sour fish that was the favorite.  It was not too sweet nor too sour as we had experienced with other Chinese food restaurants.  According to Daryl, he heard that the sauce is made from tapioca that’s why the clear but glutinous sauce.  The parsley added a distinct flavor of freshness, too.

november 1 004The broccoli with shrimps is also good.  The children didn’t like it very much because of the ginger taste but I liked it a lot.  Broccoli is a favorite of mine and it can also be very tasty with oyster sauce.

november 1 006We were so full and satisfied that taking a nap after was next to our agenda when we came home.

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Did you see the satisfaction with the smiles?

 

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