Improving From My Left Shoulder Pains By Doing My Yoga Practice Almost Daily

The above are images of the yoga mat I have been using to do my yoga asanas almost daily these past few months again. I have been away from engaging in such activities for awhile while I was in between my moving activities from one place to another. I have been having these pains from my right shoulder, which I recall started during the last winter. It feels like my right shoulder muscles have been stretched badly, and they connect to some neck muscles, too. I suspect that I must have exposed my right shoulder to the cold and ignored the chilling effects constantly, such that I would have these pains. Or I must have had a very minor stroke, which my body could still handle very well. A friend tells me it could be due to early arthritis in that part of my body. I am not sure of these things, of course, unless I go out and have myself checked up by medical doctors.

In the meantime, I have been feeling better each day when I do my yoga practices. I get in touch with my muscles and I feel more stronger. Who really knows what's exactly happening during these activities? I have other benefits gained from such engagements. I get to meditate and become more aware and conscious of myself and everything around me, too. Some inner calm takes place most wonderfully, which serves me well while a lot of changes happen in many aspects of my daily life. Thankfully, I have been seeing better results.

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

Free Climbing 3000 Feet Up The Hardest Route In The World

"After 10 days, these two guys are already halfway up the hardest route in the world. Let's keep our fingers crossed!"

These 2 guys and all the others who are part of their team are, indeed, making history. It's not finished yet (as of this writing). But they're definitely on their way now.

By the way, one of the most effective ways, based on my experience, on losing body fat and making yourself fit and trim in the process is to engage in free climbing. Have you noticed how fit most of these mountaineers you meet are? They eat (I know this from experience, too, as I used to do mountaineering years ago) humongous meals, and they eat just about anything (in addition to those recommended by their healthcare provider). You don't really have to be copycats of any those guys mentioned in the image here. You can go to any indoor climbing gyms. I believe some gyms have this kind of set-up. I once had a multi-day climb up in the Mt Halcon mountain range in Mindoro, Philippines years ago. Part of it entailed doing 'vertical' free climbing. When I came back to the city, I saw how much weight I lost, and my love handles along my belly area were gone. Hence, I recommend free climbing to all of you out there bent on losing weight and making yourself look trim and fit like an adolescent dude. Of course, you can find other ways to do this.

In the meantime, enjoy life.

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

My Elderly Friend's Inadvertent Revenge to the Late Susan Sontag

Over late lunch, my elderly friend, who is a native New Yorker and whom I met again after a few years of not seeing him, shared me again details of what happened between him and the late Susan Sontag, the writer. They're neighbors in one of those buildings in a complex built pre-war time (and whose original owner committed suicide during the financial crash in the early 20th century) somewhere along 9th Avenue and 23rd Street, with my friend living on the 9th floor and Susan Sontag on the 19th floor (which is actually the 20th floor because the building doesn't have a 13th floor). I heard the story from him many years ago but I made him repeat the story to me; I thought it's a good way to see Susan Sontag in a different light as a highly accomplished writer who was very much a human being like all of us reading this material. I have to say right now that I admire Ms Sontag's works; I read so many of her movie reviews and even an article on photography, the specific title of which I fail to recall now. My classmates and I read this article in high school, and were required to write and talk about the work in school.

My elderly friend, who's also a retired English teacher of at least 50 years, and whose real name won't be mentioned here, one day was walking with his partner and crossing 9th Avenue, and they saw a huge luggage right on the corner of the streets. Being someone who turns into cash stuff that he finds on the streets of New York City (NYC) as well as those his neighbors have refused (he noted in wonderment how these people could afford to just toss away valuable stuff easily), he was wondering what was inside the heavy luggage. He was soon opening it, and thought there could be valuables inside that he can turn into cash by selling them outright to interested customers all over NYC. They immediately went back inside the condominium to check the contents of the heavy luggage more closely.

As soon as he and his partner were  standing before the elevator of the building where they live, Susan Sontag and a heavy set man were coming out of the elevator. He was immediately being asked by both why he has that heavy luggage with him. He told them he picked it up from the corner of the street and thought someone must have left it there as thrash. Such a situation is really common anywhere in NYC; you'll see all kinds of stuff on the streets of the city such that you can furnish your whole apartment with finds from the streets where you walk about in your daily life here. It's a matter of fact of living in NYC, which some residents may refuse to openly admitting. The streets of NYC are literally laden with valuables; you just have to open your eyes and have the courage to do something most would like to deny doing. And it soon became an embarrassment somehow as it looked like to me this unexpected encounter with Ms Sontag but my friend decided to right away to hand over the heavy luggage to the heavy set male companion of Ms Sontag.

And on one occasion, he saw Ms Sontag crossing the street, and said 'Hello, Susan', which to me sounded like my elderly friend was just being normal when you're with neighbors. And Ms Sontag was pissed and told my friend something to the effect of "How dare you talk to me?", to which my friend replied something I forgot now, but which led to Ms Sontag screaming at him right there on the street.

My elderly friend who's been a freelance individual who makes the most of what NYC has to offer him to lead a happy life didn't really take such behavior from Ms Sontag personally. And one evening, as what is usual with my elderly friend, he went about checking the fire escape stairs inside his building. He found a huge dark bag that he brought back to his apartment. In it, he saw many pieces of Ms Sontag's panties.

I asked "How do you know they're Ms Sontag's panties?"

"They're with several boxes of personal stationery of her. I heard she just died, and her son must have thrown them all away. I still have her stationery. I actually thought of selling her panties on Craigslist but eventually thought against it."

He also told me how Ms Sontag's apartment, which she bought for $1million was sold by her son for $3million soon. And renovation works were soon taking place in the apartment but they stopped right after the trials of the Ponzi artist Madoff started. The unit was sold again for $8million unfinished. And again sold at $11million to a family who my elderly friend says seldom stays in the apartment.

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

Some Interesting Info From My Client About A Certain Pastor

While watching TV news about Eric Garner's death, I mentioned about the fact that I live close to where that death took place in Staten Island. The images on screen were then focusing on what a pastor was telling us the audience on what he plans to do so that justice would be served on Garner's death as soon as possible. My client, who is a retired real estate lawyer, shared how bothered he is watching at the face of that very prominent pastor (I won't name him here as I'm not a journalist. I know I have to verify first from other sources the veracity of what my client has shared me, which I'm now sharing here to put issues in a better perspective). My client recalls and went out of his way to describe me circumstances how he met and dealt with this pastor over 40 years ago. 

According to my client, this pastor would go about harassing business owners in communities where black families live around then. He would bring people in front of these stores, and demonstrate against the owners' questionable practices in doing business. Of course, that would mean losing business for the owners. And the pastor would do it primarily to make owners shell out money for his projects. My client had a client who got so scared after having been approached by the pastor, and had no option but to contact my client for his lawyering help. He met up with this pastor, and offered to give him cash in exchange for quitting the premises of the business owner where he's doing business. Or else, he would provide for the money for the cops to come over, do their work, and deal with him accordingly. This pastor won't budge so quickly. He wanted to make sure if my client's serious with his word. My client told him he's serious, and he's ready to call the cops to deal with him. The pastor would budge eventually and accede to my client's request. 

Strangely, my client would still remember such things. He's told me many things about how he was involved with politics and politicians a long time ago. One story he told me once was that he was being asked to shell out something so he'd be nominated for a vacancy to a judge-ship post here in New York, but the idea appalled him.  It's a tit-for-tat situation, just like most situations in regular life we all face as we grow up as social beings in this part of the big city. In process, I'm learning a lot from him, admittedly. I once remarked to him my wonder why beggars love to approach me and ask money from me. He told me, in reply, that I looked like someone who could be fooled by the show being put up by such street characters. That got me into thinking. I've since then stopped shelling out money to beggars and the like. I'm now giving out whatever I can afford to share in some other means (just as to assuage my guilt over seeing disturbing signs of poverty here in New York City).

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

Of Knowing A Filipino Who Has Really Made It Rich Here In NYC

I've been here in New York City (NYC) for over 8 years now and I am happy to share that I've met and known some Filipinos who have made it rich in this city. Additionally, I've met and known so many other rich people here, some of whom I've worked for as I've done part-time gigs with them to eke out a living in this very expensive city to live in. I've met some who are actually billionaires but they behave very ordinarily like normal individuals. I realize that NYC's set of structure and regulatory environment allows such lives to thrive here, and the narrative I'm sharing here is repeated regularly in many other individual lives in this city. He will remain nameless here to protect his privacy as I've not asked his permission to write about my thoughts on the friendship he and I have. We normally see each other with some other common friends, and I'm grateful to have known him better each time I see him.

He's someone who has owned and managed at least 11 units of condominium units located right in Manhattan, if I recall the number right. Do your research and you'll see he's easily a millionaire. I understand that most of these properties are 1 or 2 bedroom units in walk-up apartment buildings. He's a very hardworking fellow, single, and happy with what he's been doing with his assets. In fact, he and I would talk about our respective businesses, and I see that he's got an empathetic heart as well as a really good pair of hearing ears. He really listens to you, even if you get a sense that he's always busy --- he's got 3 cellphones that he uses for different purposes. During our talks, he would excuse himself, take calls, and do texting. And he would come back to me and just go about talking with me as if there were no earlier interruptions that had come and go. 

Of course, he's also a tightwad, which trait is nothing extraordinary among really rich people. I see that as a common trait among these people, and it's something that I have to practice all the time myself. He would do his food shopping for really cheap food items at the right locations in Manhattan at times when these food items are sold at really bargain prices, i.e., when they're already been the leftovers from those most buyers have chosen from early in the day. 

He would still be doing part-time jobs even when he has already owned and been renting out at least 11 condominium units in Manhattan (I know they're mostly in the east side of the island). I think it's mainly for cashflow reasons, as you know very well that ups and downs in business can be a challenge to manage. He would hire specialists and helpers so that his condominium units would be cleaned, maintained, and in their spick-and-span state for renters. He tells me that he has to get them rented out all the time so he would have cash flow from them---it's a very serious and complicated business to own and run real estate properties here in Manhattan where you'll see some of the most expensive properties in the whole world. In fact, a lot of owners would hire the services of real estate firms to manage their properties for them. Such is not the case with my friend, who is always up and running in managing his properties. 

He's also one of the few guys I met who knows and understands that real and hard cash in NYC are in the hands of a few well connected individuals, some of whom live in Staten Island. He's dealt with some of them when he needed to borrow some cash to help him bridge some of his monthly financial obligations---such loans are normally not available through banks, and would just be loaned out to those who have the assets to back up such amounts of money. I know he's paid off the the lender, and has since then been focusing in growing the size of his portfolio.

He would tell me in one of our conversations that a lot of people here in NYC are not used to dealing with landlords of these Manhattan-based apartments whose looks look like him and who are from the Philippines. He has to assert his interests and take action so people would take him seriously and would do what he wants. He's got his share of problems, which are common in situations in life that are worth pursuing for long term gains and benefits. He continues to deal with court cases that he has to attend to personally so his side would be heard clearly and right by the judge and the members of the juries for each of these cases. I have to know more about the details of these cases some other time.

He gives encouragement to me mainly in the form of his presence and his friendship. He tells me that he used to do several full time jobs many years ago. He's got his heart where his personal interests lie -- in his very intelligent and practical mind honed by experience in NYC, which asset I seldom see these days from most people I meet here.

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

On Getting Complimented Because I'm Strong

Strength training is integral to the overall upkeep of the state of your health. It's even a must that you do strength training as you grow older, or else, your muscles will die sooner. I take all the chance to work out so I'll have a stronger body, at least. I'm seeing, too, that to do this is never easy.

And I dislike getting complimented for being strong, which could have been a result of my genes and my constant efforts to work out whenever I can. This is true even if the compliment is delivered sincerely and coming from a good person who delivers the line in a non-malicious tone. I know I'm strong and I enjoy, still, being one. I know this strength won't last my lifetime, and since I'm still relatively young (and I take time to take care of myself), I remain strong.

This post was inspired by thoughts that came to me while helping out in moving and throwing away items like queen size mattresses, mattress boxes, cabinets, bookcases and the like from the third floor apartment in the house where I live. My landlord, who is also one of my roommates, owns the building and was unable to get help from those he contacted on Craigslist.org to help out. I can understand why those guys won't help out. This kind of work sucks. And no matter how big the payment amount for such types of work, you don't feel compensated well. And what's very annoying about it is that the one who used to live there probably planned things out to turn this way---she knew it would take more efforts other than hers and her close friends to bring those heavy stuff from that upper floor apartment. It's a common behavior I've been noticing from people who have led relatively privileged lives and who have no appreciation for real, physical hard work (hence, they choose to do other types of jobs and in the process, look down on jobs that call for physical strength to be completed every work day).

You'd see people who have been mainly leveraging their relative strengths to make money (and make a living in the process). And you can't help but see the contempt from others who despise these types of work just to make a living. Other than the measly pay rates given to these people, you must have noticed how these people are just considered mere additional materials so certain despicable projects would be finished? No wonder people who are in the various trades like to get themselves unionized whenever they get the chance----leaders and influential take advantage whenever they get the chance. It's how the system has worked ever since.

Of course, you can always say it has to be done with a good team, especially with heavy works like these that need the combined strengths of persons so the project would be completed. But who, really, appreciates that? Such work can only appreciated if done with majority of the members who volunteer from a community (or a small group, or a neighborhood), with every one giving share without getting paid money-wise when the project is over.

For now, I rather keep my strength and use it to help out whenever I get the chance or whenever I'm asked to provide help. You don't need to pay me but keep in mind that I reserve the right to refuse to handle works that I dislike doing. Just say 'thank you' and keep away from complimenting me for my strength. This strength always has to be seen in the context of time, and its main purpose in making me lead a beautiful, meaningful every day life in this part of the whole wide universe. 

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

Happy for Developments Happening in my Borough, Staten Island (Special Reports - SILive.com)

Special Reports - SILive.com:



'via Blog this'

I've been living in Staten Island for over 4 years now, and on the overall, the experience has been pleasant. I'm adventurous and I like different events happening all at the same time, personally and in all those situations surrounding me wherever I go. However, that's not happening in Staten Island all the time, which, if you've lived in Staten Island, is an understatement. If you like such a dynamic situation, you can find such to be happening in the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. I'm not that familiar with the Bronx, although I have many business partners who live and work there. The situation there is different, in the sense that the Bronx is actually part of mainland USA, which is unlike all the other boroughs of NYC that are all found in different islands. And I have to add that I find the Bronx to be interesting, too, just like the rest of NYC.

But it's not good experiencing from others I've met who have been dismissive of Staten Island, for one reason or another. It's as if people here live in the boondocks. Actually, that's partly true. The boondocks here, to say things more positively, would afford you the highest elevated views of the Atlantic Ocean. Staten Island has hills with elevation levels that give residents fabulous views normally not seen on regular TV shows. I just shake my head whenever some people I've met have notions on SI that reveal how limited their thoughts about NYC; their notions are amusing.

However, I've lived in the Stapleton neighborhood of Staten Island, so whatever views and notions I've had about this borough (SI) has been primarily based on what I've seen in my neck of the woods. I've grown to love being in this borough, honestly. A lot can be desired by someone like me, especially because I get to visit the other boroughs a lot of times every week. For example, I've noticed there's really no Chinatown here in SI, which is not true with the other boroughs. And I'd love to have more subway infrastructure put in place here in SI.

I know SI is really located some distance from Manhattan, although it's close enough to Brooklyn, which I supposed was the reason why Brooklyn and SI are linked physically mainly through the Verrazano Bridge. And given the fact the New York City (NYC) is really Manhattan-centric, there's really no way that SI could be physically linked any time soon with Manhattan, unless the politicians decide to finance the construction of a train system like the PATH (that connects Manhattan and Jersey City) now. Oh, well, that's the ideal, but I believe it won't be happening anytime soon (I hope I'm mistaken). In the meantime, I do hope the northshore commuter's rail system here in SI will start running again; I've been seeing parts of it along the western side of SI but they're not functioning as of now. I can also wish that a light railway could be built from SI to New Jersey. This will really go a long way in getting more businesses relocating themselves here in SI, which can result to more prosperity in this borough.

I'm grateful that developments are now taking place here in SI, a preview of which you can read in the link at the start of this posting. I'm excited to talk about these to every body in my network. Of course, they're usually surprised, especially if they've not heard much about SI except when Sandy visited and killed SI residents who lived a few blocks from each other. They're not even aware that  SI's at least 3 times bigger than the over-rated Manhattan Island. I guess, I'll start using 'Staten' rather than 'Staten Island' to help de-emphasize in other people's awareness that this borough is found in an island, which is just the same as that of Manhattan that is actually located, too, in a much smaller island.

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

Getting Myself Validated by Watching Amanda Palmer on 'The art of asking'

I'm grateful I've seen this YouTube video again by Amanda Palmer, who used to be struggling artist some time ago. I see a lot of things about myself by simply watching her. I've been an artist here (as a writer of primarily non-fiction materials) in NYC and have been helping myself get the necessary cash flow by doing part-time jobs. And along the way, I've been learning to ask and ask very well. Of course, I reserve the very words 'asking for help' on particular occasions; I've learned that I can ask for something without even saying those words. I know from experience that people I personally know and who know me well and for some time now dread the time when I'm going to ask help from them. Growing up, I didn't really know how to usually ask for something or even help; I've learned to reserve the chance to ask for something that I need or want on certain occasions, especially when I'm on a face-to-face situation with people I seek help from.

Of course, I'm very aware of others out there who look down on the kind of work and business that I do, grow and pursue most relentlessly these days. Most of them think it's beneath their sense of dignity to ask for something. Some even look down on this very act of blogging here as they think it's a very cheap way of doing writing works (some won't even consider bloggers as serious writers). I even notice something similar even from business partners I have in my franchise online business (check this business opportunity with Market America and start doing your shopping on my www.shop.com/jeromebaladad site) and who behave unknowingly as if they're superior over me because they don't really engage very much on asking for something because they're professionals, i.e., people listen to them by virtue of their profession. But they're really being misled by their own narrow minded view of their minuscule personal worlds. In NYC, it makes more sense for me to go out and meet new people, and just learn from the experience as I go along. And given today's level of interconnectedness, it's better to go out and ask for what you need or want from others. Look at this practice more closely and you'll see that I'm not even being risky in my behavior here as I learn in the process. I just define more clearly what I want, tell others about what I want, and take action to ask them about what I want. Most times, I get what I want. And just like Amanda Palmer's describing, the experience is very exhilarating, to say the least.

Nowadays, whenever I ask, I use technology, too, from time to time. Sometimes, it works, sometimes it doesn't. And I continue to learn from each experience of asking for something that I need or want from someone, and I am finding out that each encounter is valuable and important. Yes, Amanda's done a great job of asking for what she needs and wants by basically giving away anything valuable she has on hand, and learning to trust in facing common strangers, i.e., those we particularly don't know, and asking for their help. And from my own experiences, I've learned that I've been able to manage to do very well here in New York City (NYC) even if I don't have a regular job mainly because I've learned to ask very well. I've asked in ways that are not direct, and I've done it in some other ways. The approach in asking depends on the situation and the person I'm facing with now. And gratefully, those I've asked help from have generously shared what they've got. What else can I ask for?

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

This Comment from Customer Has Made My Day!

I've airbrushed parts of this picture, which shows the exchange of messages I just had from one of my Amazon.com storefront customers who recently bought a book from me. (S)He was grateful and thankful, despite the product arriving at his/her doorstep with 'the shipping package crushed the edge of the book cover.' Believe me, I've met some online customers who are just out there to put people's businesses down by making negative comments out of the blue, or they're being just unreasonably capricious (when they're buying a cheap-ly priced item and demanding so much in addition to the product). But this message from my customer has offset all of the negative vibes I've received from these certain customers (they know who they are! LOL).

Here's a thousand thanks to this customer!

Also, here's the book the customer bought from me (via Pinterest.com) 

SHAMELESS PLUGS:

Thank you for checking this posting out. Being in a capitalist country, I will take this opportunity, too, to share my stakes in various business engagements I currently find my self in. You may check these stakes I have here in whatever manner available to you (given changes in procedures we have from time to time), copy and paste them on your browser (if that works for you), and be more than curious with plenty of other things out there. Thank you again.

Invest in REAL ESTATE: https://fundrise.com/r/eo9x3

Get a FREE STOCK: https://join.robinhood.com/jeromeb846

Open your Fidelity broker's account, too (I got one, too!): https://fidelity.app.link/e/iy3f8YYfbCb

I also have an account with Interactive Brokers, where I mostly buy shares that are not easy to acquire thru the usual other brokers' sites; you can open your own account there, too (and I will earn a USD 200 if you do, thank you!): https://ibkr.com/referral/jerome597

And for anything online shopping that you may be always on the lookout for, especially on bestselling products and priced best, check this: https://amzn.to/3qlanEM

I also have a chain of online stores thru a franchise system, please feel free to check it out: https://affiliate.shop.com/join/register?referralEmail=dyerohmeb@gmail.com&referralPublisherID=AP3060300

I have been using supplements as part of my healthcare regimen, and they work well for me. And I get them from my own online store. Here's the link for you to check and explore:

https://www.shop.com/isotonix-daily-essentials-packets-935461732-p.xhtml?publisherID=AP3060300

(WHEN YOU BUY OR SUBSCRIBE THROUGH SOME OF MY LINKS I SHARE HERE, I MAY MAKE A COMMISSION. THANK YOU! THEY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING ME CREATE AND SHARE THESE CREATIONS HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN.)

Fishing at the Brooklyn Bridge Park

I took a walk along the Brooklyn Bridge Park today and saw that a man has just caught a big striped bass. It was still breathing, with its gills still moving. And I saw that the fish, when its belly was opened up, had been feasting on other fish heads used as baits by other fishermen in the area. Although ghastly to look at a big fish being cleaned up, it was a delightful experience seeing a fish being prepared by the man who caught it. The man said striped bass grows as big as 6 feet. And he has seen many of them passing by along the Brooklyn's side of the East River that meets with the Hudson River at the New York Harbor. It is the same kind of fish that people would eat; they are never sure if their fish was passing by or was actually living in the spot where they happened to be caught by fishermen. I recall a previous visit here, which I did not record nor write about. This is the second time that I've seen a fisherman caught a big fish in this area. I congratulated the man for his good work, which he responded to with a very gleeful 'you're welcome.'

On Foods I Usually Have Practically Every Day These Days: The Food of Italy

The Food of Italy by Waverley Root
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is kinda long read, actually, especially if you're not fond of, nor familiar with technical aspects of cooking. But really, I learned a lot from it (particularly about sausages, hams, cheeses, wines).  It's a great introduction to Italian history and culture, more than anything else.  


View all my reviews

I live with a landlord who's of Italian descent in Staten Island, close to the ferry terminal, in an old but updated and modernized house that has 21-rooms (excluding the bathroom). Along with that arrangement is the fact that I do most of the cooking these days, which I didn't do much back when I was still living in the Philippines. But since I've moved into this household, I've learned to prepare and cook mostly Italian foods, the American-ized variety, admittedly. The book, which I reviewed briefly (almost like as if I didn't want to share what I learned from reading that thick book), helped me a lot in putting into context the meals I prepare these days with the help of my landlord who used to own and operate for over 10 years his own restaurant that offered Italian-American meals.

My landlord's family hails from the northern part of Italy, which he explains has a distinctly different cuisine compared with those meals in the south. He says it's more French-y in influence, among many strong influences---I'm aware that I don't fully understand what that remark means exactly, except the fact that I'm not exactly excited by French cuisine because it requires me to read it properly (or else, I'll feel stupid having it) with the correct accent. But the author of this book, 'The Food of Italy' happened to have written another book, which is 'The Food of France', of which I'm sure I'll be reading one of these days to make me understand and appreciate French cuisine (and get me started to making such meals soon).

But other than the context that Waverly Root's book has provided me, the book also gave me the chance to imagine myself being in Italy. It's really a thick, well-researched book that has been mostly based on the author's actual experiences of living, eating, being in Italy. And of course, nobody could beat that, including researchers who pore mostly on secondary sources. My recollections of Mr Root's food book on Italian cuisine has prepared me to take lead in understanding the meals I make these days at my household.

Among Italian cuisine influenced meals I make these days, I love the chicken parmigiana, the chicken cutlets of which we fry instead of bake. This meal takes a lot of work to prepare, such that it makes sense to make a big batch of it to make best of your time making it. Of course, I like the many tomato based sauces we make with different kinds of pasta. I like to emphasize that what sets the difference in preparing these meals is basically on using the most fresh ingredients you can hold of. Also, you want to make sure you have a reliable source or supplier of pre-cooked ingredients, including the raviolis and the tortellinis,  that use you in preparing these meals. I tease my landlord that these raviolis and tortellinis are basically Chinese dumplings, and he would roll his eyes from hearing the sacrilege I'm committing, and we would laugh aloud.  Also, I love hearing my landlord as he makes comments on the cheese, which to me, is almost ridiculous.

But as I keep on having and enjoying these meals, I get a better appreciation of how regional influences, including those far away countries, have seeped into what we prepare these days. Preparing these meals takes a lot of hard work, love, patience, and loads of practical intelligence and lessons gained and transferred from one generation to another. It's just that Mr Root has taken the time and effort to write down in a book what he has learned from eating, cooking Italian meals (purportedly while he was still in Italy, or while he was connecting with his network based in Italy).

Go, buy the book, and try to read it. It's loaded with so many tips that you may find useful if you're keen on knowing more about food, especially the type being cooked in Italy.

Fascinated by the Clothes and their Owners In This Documentary

I can understand why the clothes featured in this documentary are THAT expensive. It's mainly because they're all handmade from scratch, right from the design and up to all those artisans and other workers who have contributed to make them. And as long as you have the means, you can always get these clothes, and wear them if you're a woman (or probably a transgender, which is really no problem).  

These clothes remind me of those awesome old, used clothing pieces I've seen many years ago, and they're all hand made. I've seen so many of them kept in wooden chest cases. And I recall having been in one of those exhibits of the late Ramon Valera, a Filipino haute couture designer, and recalled being awed by his works. It is both sad and a happy event that we've seen how we humans have progressed much in our endeavors, including in the way we make our clothes. Most clothes these days are made by machines. But I know from experience that hand-made clothes feel a lot more better to the skin, as I had pants specifically made for me when I was growing up. I know and remember the tailors who made them. And they always look good on the body, for they've been fitted on the person who would wear them before they were made. 

Such a feeling could be in the minds of those women who wear those wonderfully made clothes. I admire them for sticking to something that's not usual these days. They look snobbish, as a result. But they could do more by endeavoring to make it very fashionable to the general public to always choose to wear hand-made clothes. Indirectly, this will lead to more work for people who have the dedication, the heart, the endless inspiration to create such wonderful works of art that are meant to be worn and be seen on the human figure.

Why I Consider Books As The Second Most Useful Set of Helpers in Taking Lead In My Life

Other than the inspiration I got from watching the video above, I was prompted to write this posting mainly because I got reminded by my own set of memorable experiences in reading books all these years. Not to sound preposterous here, but I can claim that I've been reading books as far as I can remember being up on my feet. I was an early reader because I was influenced a lot by some relatives and family members whom I would see reading books, magazines and the like. My parents would buy me illustrated comics that have been among my earliest reading materials. We would have cabinets at home lined with books when I was growing up. Also, I was exposed to Sesame Street on TV where I learned so much on the English vocabulary, counting, numerals, symbols and, other tools used in improving your skills in reading. 

Books, needless to say, are essentially subversive materials, whether you agree to this notion or not. And reading them, particularly the best ones, literally will change directions of your life. But you don't have to take my word for it. Just observe and learn about the lives of the most important people in the world. Some examples: Jesus Christ,  himself, was into reading. In fact, in one of the narratives where he read parts of the Torah, he even proclaimed that what had been written has become real and actually happened in the very eyes of those gathered around him to listen to him read aloud from the holy books. And we all know that Mao Zedong was a book reader. He learned so much from his books, such that he used them in leading China, which is now becoming more and more the leading nation in the world each day.  And have you heard about the Persian storyteller Scheherazade of the book 'One Thousand and One Nights'? She would have been forgotten by now if she didn't hear or read about the stories that she shared with a certain Persian king, who wanted her killed but who would eventually spare her life, marry her, have children with her and make her into his queen. 

You may consider books as your lovers in printed or digital formats, especially when you are down and you feel neglected and ignored by your loved ones (or those whom you believe should love you in return for the kindness you've poured on them). In the pages of books, you'll be embraced by all the warm limbs coming from the outcomes of the very minds of the book authors. You'll be heard, strangely. At times in your reading experience, you'll get a sense that you're being listened to. And books are not exactly passive lovers as they feed you with a lot of ideas and that sense of wonder and accomplishment when you dwell on each word found in the many pages of your books. From this moment on when you feel depressed, you can always go back to reading the pages of your books that have been waiting for you for some time because you had been busy in other activities in your daily life. 

Practically every topic in life has been written in books. And a lot of these books have been gone forever (remember the famed Library in Alexandria that survived for hundreds of years until it was burned mainly because some groups of people believed books were dangerous things to possess, and so, they have to eliminated them once and for all). So many writers have been around before us and they have had the courage and took the hard time required to write books. Just do a research first so you'll discover that these statements are more truthful than falsely claimed here. And in case you don't agree with this, you can start writing your own books. Just make sure you share them with the rest of the world. In today's life, writers can most conveniently write books and get them published without spending as much money as before. They just have to actually find time to write, rewrite, rewrite, and publish --- tough activities that can intimidate a lot (hence, they're not writing at all). 

I don't understand it but I've met a number of people who have been intimidated by me just because they've seen me reading books, and even in having so many books in places where I've lived. Among other activities I'm into, I actually make a living from marketing and selling books, the core of my inventory has come from my books (400+) that I have gathered, bought, read, collected through the years. At least, I know who are the people I should keep some distance from, unless they go out of their way to reach out to me from time to time (which is just fine with me). 

And indirectly related to my efforts in book reading, I've met so many people who would give me their books, mainly because they wanted to help me out in my business. I'm not sure if they're into bookreading themselves. But I'm assured that I have known so many wonderful people who have recognized the value of books in our collective daily lives. In spite of most skeptics' belief in craziness of the idea of reading as a must-do daily activity as well as in marketing and selling books, you can be assured that the market has been expanded so long. These days, you don't really need to read the bestsellers; you just have to search online and you'll get all the chances to buy any book you may have in mind. Make sure you read those books you've ordered (or else, start your online bookselling venture, too).

Bookreading, chances are, will help so much in opening your eyes to many perspectives about life, people, places and events all over the world. In fact, you don't even have to travel physically to places unknown to you but you can do that easily by just reading books about these places. You'll meet and talk with people who have lived so many ages ago by reading books about them (or even those books they wrote themselves). You'll understand the nuances and differences of each individual by poring over the best rated books about people. You'll appreciate yourself better as you continue reading books that help clarify who you are in relation to others in your community and those living different lifestyles from yours.

And why do I say books are the second most useful set of helpers in taking lead in my life? We still have to go out of our way to connect, relate, communicate, experience loving and supportive links with other people. The wise among us have learned it early on that by merely connecting with others, they gain so much useful knowledge in life.

My take on why certain politicians get voted to their positions

This posting is about my take on why certain politicians handily get elected to positions despite the disbelief of certain individuals that they don't deserve to be voted at all by the general population. Well, first of all, that's how the political structure has been set up, so you can't do so much about it, except if you  work to destroy and replace with something the very political structure (which is easier said than done, of course!) that is in place. Second, you have to ask why the general populace is even allowed to vote at all during national elections (I think they should only be allowed to vote in local elections, i.e, that is limited to where they actually live and work because the effects of politics in people's lives can only be felt in the local level---everything else is mere noise and distraction).  I don't even understand why the general population is even allowed to vote (probably, because the state is still a functioning democracy, for all intents and purposes, and despite its inherent defects) their favored politicians into positions from time to time.

As to the other reasons, check and read again the first. You can't do much unless you revise the very structure. But I'm being cheeky about it, and so allow me to make some suggestions if the structure can't be changed soon.

And this over-all set up will continue working and bringing similar results as they are now, unless other factors that affect the collective mindset of the population will be put in place. This means ensuring certain developments to take place:
1) providing for honest-to-goodness quality free education from pre-school to college. Free means free meals while in school, free books, free supplies, free fare to and fro schools, free healthcare. Yes, literally free.
2) providing for well-compensated teachers and education administrators, plus awesome package of benefits so they'd continue to be inspired to run the education mill where (practically) everyone born in the country goes thru to be formally educated and hopefully become a functioning and responsible citizens of the state. Obviously, you can't expect much of their best from most of your workers, in case you're the owner, i.e., those who are in power and politically vested, if you're paying these people so little for so much work to do. It simply does not make sense.
3) providing free, quality health care from birth to death to all citizens of the state. Yes, make these services free and easily accessible so people will have less concerns with their already-complicated, geneally poverty-stricken lives and so that they will be able to spend pursuing their other interests and other energy draining activities without the hassles of being concerned on these issues. Give most of the population much needed break, and you'll be rewarded amply.

Actually, those three suggested steps boil down mainly to cascading thru the many levels of society the accumulated wealth and powers of the state. It means sharing and distributing more equitably the wealth of the state, i.e., the nation.

With all sincerity, I do hope this is not asking for too much. Don't really bother about providing for those who are wealthy or those who consider themselves wealthy by affiliation (they can take care of themselves and their interests). Let's bother (yes, always bother) to help and extend our support to provide logistics in our own little, unique ways to make those suggestions enumerated earlier to happen now. We can continue sending to school our relatives as well as those people who are not even related to us (including those whom we can't even imagine meeting personally immediately). Let's share our own individual wealth and riches to others as part of our over-all strategy to create, build and distribute wealth. Yes, wiser people who came ahead of us have realized that it only makes sense to be wealthy and rich if we can share these gifts and blessings (we simply can't bring them to where ever we are going when we die). Look at those richly decorated tombs and monuments of the Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, etc. now found in many parts of the world. The last time I checked they're still very dead up to now, even if they tried so hard to ensure their wealth and lofty positions would be displayed for us who are fortunately still alive. Such useless ways of spending wealth!

I doubt, honestly, if the situation will improve in the future elections. Those suggestions would require spending a lot of public money. I think members of the elites would like to keep most of the members of the masses ignorant, misinformed and malleable to serve their own very feudalistic interests. Who would be doing most of the dirty work if these people would  become enlightened? That's simply unimaginable a set-up to happen. If such a situation happens, it's even too mind boggling to imagine how to sustain it. But as change is always the only constant things in life, change will happen. These aggregated changes by each one of us will affect and make the very structure crumble in its very foundations.

In the meantime, we can't really expect much from the electorate, even if we work that extra hard and do one-by-one reaching out to them. They simply won't get it. Everyday life conditions are too tough for them so they won't simply listen to your pleadings and other arguments to vote for change (no matter how valid your points are).

Weekend: Another Must-See Movie

This write-up should have been due, following a personal deadline, more than a year ago, but I only managed to prepare this after a lot of events happened in my life lately, and which led and strongly prompted me to share my thoughts about this film made in 2011. I know some people have been raving over this film, which I believe is a must-see movie if you're wanting to understand, other than to merely enjoy being in the company of, what goes on in the private lives of the members of the LGBTQ communities all over the world (or in your own little world). Or you may just want to see a very ordinary love story told with a twist, this time, after having exposed yourself to the usual crappy stuff shown in most media outlets. Of course, each one of us is different, as may have been represented in this film, and which is fact that is needless to say but most of us would conveniently forget. But with the way the film narrated its story, I'll recommend that you watch this one. 

This film shows a searing portrait on how male gay people, in this instance, lead their lives when enough acceptance is felt, experienced by them coming from and shared most lovingly without judgment their relatives and friends. In so many words, it's not typical, not clique. And you'll be comforted yourself about your own uniqueness, which trait you have to recognize and share with everyone else around you.

Also, I was prompted by seeing how similar in looks one of the film's protagonists with the looks of a roommate who's a straight Puerto Rican guy (I should tell him about this and wait how he would react). I was wondering if I should ask him to watch it and make him uncomfortable with his issues; he can be homophobic at times when he relates with me. And I have read somewhere that the actors who played the interesting characters in this film were straight in real life. I've seen and met a lot of straight-acting types in my life, and I can tell you, these actors have done a great job.

Just like straight people, gay people are just so varied in terms of their values that they hold dear to their hearts, their levels of education, respective social backgrounds, every day life directions, hopes, and other aspects of lifestyle."Weekend" will give you an honest introduction to some interesting characters who are trying to fall in love with each other, sustain these feelings, and build a significant relationship even amidst built-in distracting and off-putting elements in the surrounding environment where the two individuals happened to meet each other. The plot runs almost very similar with any other love story you'll find in any movie or book you've pored your time on. Except that one character was a slut, in normal straight terms.

Despite your reservations and biases, watch this film because you'll see how most young people don't really bother much about issues related to their friends being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender these days. It has been like that for the past few years, probably a decade or so. Most of these young people simply don't, at least from what I've seen and have heard about. They don't even bother to intellectualize these issues as they're basically no-brainer ones because they're very much part of the list of emotional experiences available to someone who would like to open up to possibilities of loving and living with other individuals of the same gender as yourself. And loving is actually something you're capable of doing, as long as you open your mind and heart to it without expecting much in return. Also young people don't anymore carry the baggage that the more elderly try to continue to carry the burden and cover themselves up with and which make their relationships more complicated when it comes to facing LGBTQ issues. An example of this can be gleamed from how surveys in the USA consistently show that younger people are more accepting of marriage equality issues. What matters to most young people is that they like to deal with authentic friends who are true to themselves and would want to be better when shown opportunities. 

What the film endeavors to present to its targeted viewers maybe deemed amusing to some. But as a curious viewer, you'll probably end up wondering where the world has gone if you consider what the film's attempting to share. It's saying "mind your own business" in so many words. As many accomplished and notable artists have been saying all along, it does not matter whatever sexuality you have---what matters is that you have a heart and an open mind ready and wiling to love another person who is also taking a great risk of loving you, given the presence of so much hatred in the world now. As to what kind of love you've got  does not matter much anymore----what suffices is that you've had the experience and you're a better person because of it.

A version of 'The Lord's Prayer' from Aramaic into English

I don't remember where I copied this from (please let me know right away if your site is the one where this came from, originally), as I have kept it in draft form until I rediscovered it today. But be that as it may, it's reassuring experience to be able to read and know about this awesome prayer that will help take lead in whatever undertaking we now have. Among other blessings it brings, it helps set our minds and lead us back to the very purpose we got in our respective lives.

A beautiful rendition and translation directly from the Aramaic into English of "The Lord's Prayer"

Oh, Cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration!
Soften the ground of our being
and carve out a space within us
... where your Presence can abide.
Fill us with your creativity
So that we may be empowered
to bear the fruit of our mission.
Let each of our actions bear fruit
in accordance with our desire.
Endow us with the wisdom to produce
and share what each being needs
to grow and flourish.
Untie the tangled threads of destiny
that bind us, as we release others
from the entanglement of past mistakes.
Do not let us be seduced by that which
would divert us from our true purpose,
but illuminate the opportunities
of the present moment.
For you are the ground and the fruitful vision,
the birth power and the fulfillment,
as all is gathered and made whole once again.

Keeping a Proper Perspective When Doing Part-time Caregiving Gigs!

I would do caregiving gigs every now and then, and which is happening right now as I write this. My client (yes, we call them 'clients') lies on his bed now and trying to get a nap while the TV is blasting from its perch. And I was figuring what else to do as I keep my eyes open and ears clear so I'd be there with him the next time he calls.

Fortunately, he still has his marbles on. But he's basically retired from his lawyering work unless he decides again that he could be fit enough to fight against extreme pain the challenges of age and waning health. I won't discuss here his actual medical condition. But he's been complaining so much about pain whenever he's on his feet. Using a walker, he manages to walk somehow here in his 1-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. People advise him to walk, even if it would mean more pain for him.

I like to agree with those people who have been advising him. It's a pain in the ass just to keep on encouraging him to move around, do exercises and more. I guess he's never been fond of physical activities even when he was younger. But the truth of the matter is that he can only go back to his old physically healthy self if he ignores the pain as he goes about being physically active. "No pain, no gain" as some would say.

I take pains myself while I do my yoga almost daily. I suffer from humiliation everytime I dance with others and they would notice my sweaty hands. At home, I do household works and other errands almost daily and whenever I have the chance. And I make part of my money for my living needs from leveraging these activities to my bank account's advantage. Someone else's loss has been my gain.

As I continue doing these caregiving gigs, I ask myself: "Am I really helping these clients of mine?" I'm beginning to wonder if I'm being smart about these assignments. A lot of other Filipinos all over the USA are into these caregiving gigs, such that some people (who I assume would rather be dead than do these kinds of gigs) would be prejudiced against people who are making their money from doing caregiving gigs. I know so many Filipinos who are doing these jobs such that some of them ask me to cover for them when they want to go on vacation. Many realize that they have to enjoy their days-off to regain their sanity and health from doing these gigs. Some of these gigs are very demeaning, honestly. And many such gigs are perceived to be not the ideal honest way of making money, especially if you're overeducated, a professional back in the Philippines, or simply whiling around your time here in the USA waiting for something better to happen. And in hierarchical societies such as the Philippines, these jobs are not exactly among the most desired jobs that any young person would like to pursue.

In the meantime, I'll keep on encouraging my client. I can only wish he'd help himself, despite extreme pain, to engage more and more often in physical activities. I'm keeping my perspective that I could have been the client if I wasn't doing these part-time gigs. And it's too soon for me to have that now.

On Always Being Mistaken as a Mexican (or Another South American Country) Here in NYC

Once again, someone who's a stranger was chatting with me and she thought I was 'Mexican'. I had to correct her right away, and tell her 'I'm Filipino'. I would usually say 'Yo soy Filipino.' Now, I have experienced being with other Asians and some of them would not correct me right away if I would mistake them for coming from another Asian country other than their true Mother Country. For example, I've met several South Koreans who would not tell me right away if they're  South Koreans even if I guessed wrongly they're Japanese. I don't know exactly why would they do that.

My point in these mistaken identities is that they indicate something about those nations that stick to the mind of the one asking me. I could always assume they're prejudiced, biased of clinging to something relatively untrue. I sense some are actually malicious, especially because I feel they're using as bases their questions on outward looks. It's a perception thing for most people. And I have to learn that most of these questions are heart-felt and authentic, even if they can sound negative to me.

But then again, being thought of as Mexican (by some malicious persons) is not exactly a bad thing. Mexico is among the world's biggest, major economies. And I have a special fondness for Mexicans as they behave strangely very similar to folks I know back in the Philippines. It's not difficult to imagine that, as Mexico and the Philippines were linked culturally at least a 100 years before the Philippines got its own independence from Spain in 1898. Check history books and you'll be amazed at finding about details of these links. And more, a place called 'Mexico, Pampanga' is located in the Philippines. For hundreds of years, Mother Spain administered the Philippines thru Mexico. The word 'palengke', which is Mexican, is used most extensively and understood to refer to a local market. And with that main note here, I like to believe I'm taking lead by claiming these notions to my advantage.

On Janine Tugonon's Becoming Ms Universe 2012's First Runner Up

I'm grateful to have seen the video above being broadcast live on TV with others including good friends last Wednesday December 19th. And we have been doing this group-event for a year or two now. I bravely predicted Janine Tugonon would win the top plum post of this beauty pageant. But I missed it by a point because the judges didn't agree with my prediction.

You could just imagine why viewers were disappointed, including those among friends who were with me viewing the proceedings, and who are among serious enthusiasts of international beauty pageants like this. I'm into it mainly because I like watching it with friends, or else, I won't watch it alone at home (I've got better things to do while at home where I make my business more profitable and make myself happy).

I've come to realized that some, including those among the judges, can't stand the truth when beauty is before them. Janine really performed and brought home the bacon, so to speak.  Proof of the observation that some people can't deal with the truth more honestly is how online viewers would go out of their way to disparage Janine Tugonon. You see the same behavior from people who destroy beautiful objects of art (be of religious topic, something cultural, books, or even cute animals), as they can't stand the sight of beauty before themselves. Have you seen how some people smirk and become nervous at the sight of something impossibly beautiful before them? That's something similar to what happened in the Ms. Universe 2012 pageant.

And I read Facebook remarks that Janine was well deserving of losing as she looks like a typical Filipina maid, and so that she should not be 'Ms. Universe 2012.' And we won't dwell anymore here about post-colonial thoughts that the judges couldn't stand having someone from a former US colony winning over the Mother country itself---silly thoughts to have here, actually. The world, since those years, have moved and continues to circle around the sun.

Look here, now. Standards of beauty and elegance are always changing and evolving. I'm just amazed that a number of those Latina beauties didn't make it to the top 5, considering that they've usually made it to the ranks in the past decades. Also, note that Ms. Angola, who's a stunningly beautiful, smart black lady, was Ms. Universe 2011---an idea that would have been unimaginable many decades ago to happen in beauty pageants like this one ---even one of my good friends that night still can't get over the idea that a black person would win this beauty contest as I heard him made silly remarks again (loud laughter!) about her looks.

My good American friend, who was born and raised here in the East Coast, was with us during the TV viewing event. He won't be watching this show alone by himself, except that he thought it could be fun watching it with others as he had nothing better to do and won't go to bed soon even if he had an early flight the next day. He said 'it's a mixed bag,' as he's biased (just like myself and anyone of us). He thought Janine really did well and she deserved to win as Ms. Universe 2012. And he even made remarks that run along the idea that the men (or straight men) among the judges might had been thinking about who among these women would they want to get to bed with---this is, of course, a tasteless remark. But I can imagine that it can really be among the thoughts of the (straight male) judges while in the process of judging the contestants. What are these beauty pageants all about but mainly to emphasize that physical traits of beauty reign supreme over something more subtle and beneath the skin? And the whole proceedings are mainly done repeatedly annually for marketing purposes with huge budgets---look at how happy Mr. Trump could be as some huge groups of people are talking about his franchise.

And actually, you have to recall that Janine did win. She's among the top 5 finalists, and she landed first runner-up. Not everybody among the rest of the contestants can be in her position, except Ms. USA. With that, it means she's among the most beauteous ladies from her ranks, and nobody can deny her (and her supporters) that, even the meanest critics among us. For that, I have to be grateful and I'm looking forward to more winnings for Philippine contestants (also from those in the USA, where I've been based for sometime now) in the years to come from seemingly petty, silly, stupid international beauty contests like this.

Learning from the ★American idol Jessica Sanchez Experience★ - YouTube

★American idol Jessica Sanchez-Turn the beat around[HD]★ - YouTube:

Well, I'm sad that my prediction became true, with Jessica not winning the 'American Idol' award this season. But I know she'll go farther in the direction of her entertainment career than the other one who won this season. The producers, advertisers, judges, and viewers generally are not convinced yet that an 'American Idol' has to be nothing else but the usual 'white person.' I experience a similar treatment in my writing career (mostly writing in English other than the other languages I know) just because I'm not someone whose English is considered my 1st language (The Bicol language, which most label as a 'dialect', was actually my 1st language, with both English and Tagalog languages I have come to learn and use practically at the same time by aged 7). But I'm happy knowing that people outside of the US read items in my growing portfolio, which I get to know from using certain softwares that help track locations of online viewers and readers. 

What needs to be done? Individuals like us here in the USA, and who look different from the 'average type' being shown in most media outlets have to  make themselves seen, noticed, known, etc by the general public, especially by influential, powerful people. Make ourselves become the opposite of stereotyped roles most would like to assign to us. And let's sustain our efforts in doing all these; in due time we'll become a stronger force that can't be ignored and labeled conveniently by those influential persons who are just so scared now because they're seeing that their presence out there is dimming so quickly than usual.

I'm sure Jessica Sanchez will be among the top 3 finalists of the current season of American Idol. At the same time, I doubt if she will win the coveted award. Most probably, viewers and producers of American Idol will weigh on her being too young and too talented, so she can always get more than enough gigs to sustain her energy and efforts to become a showbiz superstar in her own time. Look at the many others who were eliminated along the way, and yet they're more up there in the much talked about career ladder of entertainment.

But is this reasoning tenable? Yes, but only if viewers will allow this to happen, and also, only when the 3 judges (and those who advise and those who influence them in the background) will make this happen. I can just imagine how much concentrated prayers coming from TV viewers of Philippine-Mexican upbringing are now being said; they're basically all rooting for Ms. Sanchez to finish first in the current season of American Idol.

And why do I believe Ms. Sanchez will have the prospect of an extensive career laid before her? Remember how she rendered a version of Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'? It's among the first-rate versions I've listened to-date, which are among those versions that don't sound as if the singer's attempting to being an autographed copy of the original (who's always considered the best by most minds on matters like this). Ms. Sanchez can stand on her own, even with worst chosen songs like the song 'Turn The Beat Around.'

Way to go, Ms. Jessica Sanchez! You make all of us who believe in your gift more prouder of ourselves; we see a piece of our dreams in what you're (and members of your ever supportive team) accomplishing nowadays.

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