Faces, Phases

Our weekends are spent taking pictures of Sean, our boy genius. Here are some of Sean's many faces taken at different phases of his young life.

Stylish Glasses at Affordable Prices

Since I started wearing prescription glasses, I have had around five or six pairs of eyeglasses already. Sometimes the lenses get scratched and I have to get a new one. Other times I break the frame, or I just have to get another pair because the lense's grade doesn't fit my need anymore. But this is one thing I observed, the price of the frame takes up a big chunk of the actual cost of a new pair of eyeglasses. I have resigned myself to this fact until I saw this blurb in a blog I frequent: Zenni Optical: Sell Rx Glasses $8 with case! Next time I need to change my eyeglasses, I know where to get one that is stylish and easy on the pocket.

Photoshop Experiment

Before

After

After reading some photoshop tips from a blog, I tried experimenting with a photo of my nephew. I tried increasing the saturation and this is what I got. I don't know if it's just me, but the second photo (After) makes Sean look a little livelier. What do you think?

Quotes from my feed reader

It's a slow day at the office, so please allow me to post some quotes from my rss feeds.

To lead others, embody their ideals! - Leonid S. Sukhorukov

Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue. - Confucius

In this business, by the time you realize you're in trouble, it's too late to save yourself. Unless you're running scared all the time, you're gone. - Bill Gates

Boy Genius Turns 2

My nephew celebrated his second birthday last Monday, January 21. Since he loves animals, his parents treated him to a day at the Manila Zoo last Sunday as a pre-birthday gift. From his stories (yes, he can tell a story), he said he saw all the animals that he reads in his books. My sister said he particularly enjoyed watching the elephant and the big cats. Sean said that the tigers were sleeping when they came so he shouted for them to wake up. HIs mom added that he started singing Barney's Elephant song when he saw the big elephant. When asked what other animals he saw, he said he saw birds, monkeys, a deer, a zebra, the crocodiles, the hippo, and even a flamingo.

I wasn't able to get him a present for his birthday, but I made the picture above, showing him driving LIghtning McQueen, the lead car in his favorite movie, Cars. The cropping could use some improvement, but our boy genius was ecstatic when I gave him a print of this.

Precious Gold

All throughout civilization, gold has been a very valuable possession. From the ancient times to now, it has never ceased to fascinate our imagination. People see gold as a lifetime investment. They spend their lives acquiring gold, in the form of jewelry, to be passed on from generation to generation. But more often than not, these gold jewelry are resold or pawned at less than market prices by cash-strapped individuals. But there's a better way of investing in gold aside from acquiring jewelry, by buying gold bullion bars, which are more precious than the jewelry that we have come to know and love.

DTI-Ayala-Magsaysay Business Plan Competition Extended: Student Category Participants Increasing

Students and young entrepreneurs can still submit their business plans for the DTI-Ayala-Magsaysay Business Plan Competition until February 20, 2008, 12 N.N. The deadline of entries was moved due to the clamor of several colleges and universities to extend the duration of the contest. To date, the participants who submitted their business plans come from the following schools: Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Philippine Women's University, Technological Institute of the Philippines, and University of the Philippines. More universities are expected to join, as classes have resumed this January.

Cash prizes and free consultancy in starting a business are at stake for the winners. Grand winners in the Young Entrepreneurs (Individual Enterprise), Young Entrepreneurs (Group Enterprise), Student Entrepreneurs, will be awarded P300,000.00, P500,000.00, and P100,000.00 respectively. The top ten entrepreneurs for the Young SME Category will be awarded P 200,000.00 each.

The competition is open to all Filipino citizen and Filipino-owned companies in the Philippines, with current and / or potential agri-business operations or business dealings in the National Capital Region (NCR). The Young Entrepreneurs (Individual / Group Enterprise) is open to Filipinos 35 years old and below who have an original enterprise which may not be currently in operation. This includes the newly-started businesses. Bonafide regular college students are welcome to join the Student Entrepreneurs category. Those who already have an existing agri-business enterprise, which is, at least 3 years operating are invited to join the Young SME category.

Business plans will be judged according to profitability (30%), creativity of product or service (25%), feasibility (25%), and contribution to the community (20%).

Assistant Secretary Angel L. Pelayo calls on to more participants: "We discovered that a lot of young Filipinos, specifically students, are interested in coming up with innovative enterprises. This competition is intended to motivate and assist more entrepreneurs to grow their business. We invite more college students and young business-oriented individuals to participate. This is a good opportunity for them."

All entries should be submitted to the Secretariat Office on or before 12 NN, February 20, 2008. The address is: DTI-Ayala-Magsaysay Business Plan Competition Secretariat c/o Starfish Magazine Center for Social Development, Ayala Foundation 10/F BPI Bldg., Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.

For more details on the mechanics and to download application forms, log on to www.dtincr.ph.(end)

SCORPIO - The Intense One ( Oct 23 - Nov 21)

Below are True descriptions of zodiac signs. Read your sign, then forward it on, With your zodiac sign and label on the subject line. This is the real Deal, try ignoring or changing it, and the first thing you'll notice is having a horrible day starting tomorrow morning - and it only gets Worse from there. Remember, if you are on the cusp of another sign you most likely will have features of both signs...which may lead you into total confusion......

VIRGO - The Perfectionist ( Aug 23 - Sept 22)
Dominant in relationships. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Harsh. Practical and very fussy. Often shy. Pessimistic. 7 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

SCORPIO - The Intense One ( Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Very energetic, Intelligent. Can be jealous and/or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long Relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be self-centered at times. Passionate and Emotional. 4 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

LIBRA - The Harmonizer ( Sept 23 - Oct 22)
Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible. 9 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

ARIES - The Daredevil ( Mar 21 - April 19)
Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse. (easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. Courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic. 16 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

AQUARIUS - The Sweetheart ( Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique. Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality. 11 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

GEMINI - The Chatterbox ( May 21 - June 20)
Smart and witty. Outgoing, very chatty. Lively, energetic. Adaptable But need to express themselves. Argumentative and outspoken. Like change. Versatile. Busy, sometimes nervous and tense. Gossips. May seem superficial or inconsistent. Beautiful physically and mentally. 5 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

LEO - The Boss ( July 23 - Aug 22)
Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help Others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. Doing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive. 13 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

CANCER - The Protector ( June 21 - July 22)
Moody, emotional. May be shy. Very loving and caring. Pretty/handsome. Excellent partners for life. Protective. Inventive And imaginative. Cautious. Touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love From others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic. 16 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

PISCES - The Dreamer ( Feb 19 - Mar 20 )
Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don't like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful. 8 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

CAPRICORN - The Go-Getter ( Dec 22 - Jan 19)
Patient and wise. Practical and rigid. Ambitious. Tends to be Good-looking. Humorous and funny. Can be a bit shy and reserved. Often pessimistic. Capricorns tend to act before they think and can be Unfriendly at times. Hold grudges. Like competition. Get what they Want. 20 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

TAURUS - The Enduring One ( April 20 - May 20th)
Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings who Are stable and secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient and reliable. Make great friends and give good advice. Loving and kind. Loves hard - passionate. Express themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper-tantrums. Determined. Indulge themselves often. Very generous. 12 years of bad Luck if you do not forward

SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One ( Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out. 14 years of bad luck if you do not forward