President Martelly Launches the First Haitian Cyber Tap-Tap

Haiti President Martelly has recently launched a project called Cyber Tap-Tap. This project is designed to raise awareness among young students from underprivileged communities on the importance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and its use. Cyber Tap-Tap provides easy and free access to the Internet and online educational games for high school students. The truck has satellite Internet installed so it can work at any regional point. It has 12 computers to accommodate a trained instructor and 11 users. It also has a WIFI so that schoolchildren outside can also get an Internet access with their laptops or tablets. Its first prototype is furnished with all relevant materials and an independent power that meets ICT standards. 

30 Ways to Quit Smoking

In spite of all the intense efforts done by the US government in warning people about the harmful effects of smoking, majority of smokers are still having a difficult time kicking their habit.  This isn’t to say that these smokers aren’t aware of the harmful effects of smoking and there are ways to quit smoking. Smokers do understand that smoking increases many health risks such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. In addition, smokers also understand that smoking not also costs lives, it also costs huge amount of money.

Why Is Smoking Hard to Quit?

There is sound explanation why there are still millions of people who smoke. The nicotine substance found in cigarettes is highly addictive as it provides a temporary high. When one tries to quit smoking, the nicotine will make one’s body get cravings and withdrawal symptoms physically. Furthermore, smoking gives psychological comfort to smokers.

Many businesses and researchers have acknowledged the fact that to quit smoking itself is hard. So many systems and programs have been formulated on ways to quit smoking; yet, the research still manifests the advantages of quitting, and the disadvantages of not quitting.

How To Quit Smoking

As smoker, you will always find it hard to kick the bad habit, unless you are really determined to do so. There are ways to quit smoking that really works; all you will need is to recognize which of the methods will work for you and which won’t work.

*Create a straightforward record of the things you like so much about smoking. The Clinical Psychiatric Research Center director, Daniel Z. Lieberman, M.D. suggests that one must draw a line in the center  of a piece of paper and start writing things that you like and dislike in smoking.

*After you have created your record or list, you must set a date as to when you would want to end your quitting program. This gives you enough time to complete your mission.

*On an index card, jot down all your reasons why you want to quit and make sure that it’s within reach at all times.

*As you prepare yourself to quit smoking, you will also need to stop buying cartons of smoke. Just buy one pack at a time as this will help gradually deprive you down to fewer smokes.

*Maintain a record of what you were doing at the time when you smoke and how grave your craving was, suggests Gaylene Mooney of the American Association for Respiratory Care’s Subcommittee on Smoking and Tobacco-Related Issues. This is to identify which activity or time of day you usually get the craving.

*List down of the things you would do once your craving hits. Some things you might want to consider are the following: cleaning the house, chew a gum, get a cup of tea or coffee, take a walk or brush your teeth. Make sure to bring the list with you at all times so when craving kicks in, you can quickly pick one of the things and do it. 

I am 10:02 A.M.

Quizzes Girls Games

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You are breakfasty, like a pile of pancakes on a Sunday morning that have just the right amount of syrup, so every bite is sweet perfection and not a soppy mess. You are a glass of orange juice that's cool, refreshing, and not overly pulpy. You are the time of day that's just right for turning the pages of a newspaper, flipping through channels, or clicking around online to get a sense of how the world changed during the night. You don't want to stumble sleepily through life, so you make a real effort to wake your brain up and get it thinking. You feel inspired to accomplish things (whether it's checking something off your to-do list or changing the world), but there's plenty of time for making things happen later in the day. First, pancakes.

 

Jadon and His Random Act of Sweetness

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

I was doing my usual stuff on a Wednesday afternoon, trying to meet my deadlines and stuff. I asked Ate Mary Ann if she could check what the "afternoon meryenda" was being sold at a sari-sari store nearby. Jadon, who was playing computer games at that time, asked me if he could come with his ate. So I said yes, and then Jadon, Asher and Ate Mary Ann finally left.

A few minutes later, Jadon went inside our bedroom with forks, a paper bag full of "turon" and "lumpiang gulay" and handed a yellow flower to me. He said, "mommy, sa 'yo po." (mommy, this is for you.) I was surprised and gladdened at the same time because it was a random act; something really unexpected. I realized that Jadon already knows how to show love or care with other people. I have also realized how all the efforts of setting a good example to my kids really pay off in the end.

I can tell this wouldn't be the only first and the last time he'd be doing something sweet for me, for his dad, or even for his brothers. Teacher Marise can attest to that; even his lola Susan affirms that, too.

Parenting Wisdom: "When You Thought I Wasn't Looking"

Author: Unknown

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed that there was a God to talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me goodnight,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared,
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I looked....
and I wanted to say thanks for all the things 
I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

Champorado: One Man’s Leftover is Another Man’s Comfort Food Delicacy

                                                           photo credit: Matt Mendoza

Our national hero Jose Rizal may be surrounded of stories about his famous writings and his bravery, but there is more to this exclusive hero that makes his tale memorable not only to young Filipinos but to old folks alike. When Rizal was still a young Pepe, he came up with his very own chocolate porridge, also known as Champorado. Word has it that in an effort to change his rice that’s day-old into something beyond palatable, he poured a cup of Spanish hot chocolate on it and he finally had his fill of his very own Champorado. But of course, the Champorado we eat today is downright different from young Pepe’s, as his chocolate porridge is much contentious. On the other hand, it’s still a nice story to tell to young kids who wants to know the story behind this delicious and filling chocolate porridge.

The history of Champorado was traced back when Mexican traders introduced it to Filipinos during the era of Galleon trade. Some of the Mexican traders stayed in the Philippines and brought with them the recipe of “champurrado” in the Philippines. Champurrado drinks were whipped up by using “molinillo,” a wooden whisk that is rolled between the palms of one’s hands then stirred back and forth in the mixture until it is frothy and aerated. As the years passed, Filipinos have finally found ways to make the original brownish, sticky Mexican champurrado into a more Philippine Champorado by adding rice.

Champorado is chiefly made of sticky glutinous rice, or day-old rice and cocoa powder. Some people prepare it with chocolate baking bars, while others use Tablea, a dry cocoa tablet that’s used to prepare the traditional Filipino hot chocolate. The glutinous rice is poured in a cooking pot filled with boiling water and is simmered for a few minutes. Then the cocoa powder is added in the pot and is mixed continuously for several minutes. Some people add sugar to sweeten the mixture, while some opt for honey as healthy alternative in sweetening the porridge. It’s also usually topped with fresh milk or evaporated milk as a prerequisite, as it adds distinct creaminess to it. Because it’s usually served at breakfast time, many Filipinos love to have this sweet, tasty bowl treat with sun-dried, salted fish called “tuyo” as it creates balance to the sweetness of the Champorado.

Champorado is customarily served hot to warm, which makes it a perfect comfort food on cold, rainy days. On the other hand, many Filipinos still find a reason to eat this chocolate-y Filipino comfort food on any given day. In fact, many of us prefer to eat it chilled especially during the scorching days of summer. The good thing about comfort food these days is that some food manufacturers have come up with instant mixes for Champorado, ideal for those who are on the go. Regardless of how it is served or eaten, Champorado is sure to chase your blues away, making it one of the most popular Filipino comfort foods served in our homes and in many food establishments up to this day. 

PROCRASTINATION

It's what am good at lately that I totally suck with my work...and end up losing another project. :(