Do you like to get a little dirty?

Hey! I don't mean it that way... 

I mean in the actual dirt-on-hands, mud-under-the-fingers sort of way. There's a reason I'm asking...

According to an article in The Atlantic, there may be another reason that people love to garden as much as they do (not me--my thumbs are as opposite from green on the color wheel as they can get). 

See, there's this little bacterium called M. vaccae that lives in the rich soil found in compost heaps. And if you breathe it in, it alters your state of mind and acts like antidepressant: it ups the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in your body, giving you an instant mood boost. Its effects are very similar to Prozac. Just, you know, in teensy dirt-dwelling bacteria form.

Maybe I should revisit this gardening thing. I'm not sure the plants have forgiven me for the last time I thought that, though.

Do you blush easily? Do you blush just thinking about blushing? If you tend to have embarrassing moments a lot, you'll love this news...

Have you ever done something really embarrassing and then turned bright red as a result?
Researchers from University of California, Berkeley, studied embarrassing moments and found that when things like this happen, people are more likely to perceive the person who's embarrassed as kind and caring. Also, people who get red-faced easily, according to the study, are more likely to have more friends. 

So, don't be so hard on yourself if you're quick to get embarrassed!

30 Truths I’ve Learned In 30 Years

1.  There comes a point in life when you get tired of chasing everyone and trying to fix everything, but it’s not giving up.  It’s realizing you don’t need certain people and things and the drama they bring.
2. If a person wants to be a part of your life they will make an obvious effort to do so.  Don’t bother reserving a space in your heart for people who do not make an effort to stay.
3. If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down – which is not always as obvious and easy as it sounds.
4. Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.
5. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success.  You don’t fail by falling down.  You fail by never getting back up.  Sometimes you just have to forget how you feel, remember what you deserve, and keep pushing forward.
6. When you get to know people with different ethnic backgrounds, from different cities and countries, who live at various socioeconomic levels, you begin to realize that everyone basically wants the same things.  They want validation, love, happiness, fulfillment and hopes for a better future.  The way they pursue these desires is where things branch off, but the fundamentals are the same.  You can relate to almost everyone everywhere if you look past the superficial facades that divide us.
7. The more things you own, the more your things own you.  Less truly gives you more freedom.  
8. While you’re busy looking for the perfect person, you’ll probably miss the imperfect person who could make you perfectly happy.  This is as true for friendships as it is for intimate relationships.  Finding a companion or a friend isn’t about trying to transform yourself into the perfect image of what you think they want.  It’s about being exactly who you are and then finding someone who appreciates that.
9. Relationships must be chosen wisely.  It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.  There’s no need to rush.  If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason.
10. Making a thousand friends is not a miracle.  A miracle is making one friend who will stand by your side when thousands are against you.
11. Someone will always be better looking.  Someone will always be smarter.  Someone will always be more charismatic.  But they will never be you – with your exact ideas, knowledge and skills.
12. Making progress involves risk.  Period.  You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
13. Every morning you are faced with two choices:  You can aimlessly stumble through the day not knowing what’s going to happen and simply react to events at a moment’s notice, or you can go through the day directing your own life and making your own decisions and destiny.  
14. Everyone makes mistakes.  If you can’t forgive others, don’t expect others to forgive you.  To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.
15. It’s okay to fall apart for a little while.  You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well.  You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears.  The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
16. We sometimes do things that are permanently foolish just because we are temporarily upset.  A lot of heartache can be avoided if you learn to control your emotions.
17. Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right.  There are many roads to what’s right.  You cannot judge others by your own past.  They are living a different life than you.  What might be good for one person may not be good for another.  What might be bad for one person might change another person’s life for the better.  You have to allow people to make their own mistakes and their own decisions.
18. Nobody is perfect, and nobody deserves to be perfect.  Nobody has it easy.  You never know what people are going through.  Every one of us has issues.  So don’t belittle yourself or anyone else.  Everybody is fighting their own unique war.
19. A smile doesn’t always mean a person is happy.  Sometimes it simply means they are strong enough to face their problems.
20. The happiest people I know keep an open mind to new ideas and ventures, use their leisure time as a means of mental development, and love good music, good books, good pictures, good company and good conversation.  And oftentimes they are also the cause of happiness in others – me in particular.
21. You can’t take things too personally.  Rarely do people do things because of you.  They do things because of them.
22. Feelings change, people change, and time keeps rolling.  You can hold on to past mistakes or you can create your own happiness.  A smile is a choice, not a miracle.  True happiness comes from within.  Don’t make the mistake of waiting on someone or something to come along and make you happy.
23. It’s much harder to change the length of your life than it is to change the depth of it.
24. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
25. When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.
26. One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else.
27. Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.  
28. Anyone can make a difference.  Making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.
29. Everything is a life lesson.  Everyone you meet, everything you encounter, etc.  They’re all part of the learning experience we call ‘life.’  Never forget to acknowledge the lesson, especially when things don’t go your way.  If you don’t get a job that you wanted or a relationship doesn’t work, it only means something better is out there waiting.  And the lesson you just learned is the first step towards it.
30. Regardless of how filthy your past has been, your future is still spotless.  Don’t start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday.  Every day is a fresh start.  Each day is a new beginning.  Every morning we wake up is the first day of the rest of our life.

Perks to Being Single

To all my single friends..  here are the reasons to be happy that someday is not today ;-)

 

1. The Opportunity to Check Out All Those "What–Ifs"
A random person you meet at a party, an acquaintance you’ve had a crush on forever, maybe even a co–worker: when you’re single, you can pursue these "what–ifs" and see where they lead. More often than not, these little sparks of romance turn out to be nothing, but at least when you’re single, the not knowing won’t drive you crazy.

2. Not Shaving.
Your legs, your beard, or any other part of your body. Not shaving, and sparing those extra 15 minutes in the morning just because you don’t feel like it, is the luxury of the single person.

3. Wild Nights! Wild Nights!
It’s pretty nice to be able to go out, and stay out as long as you want, without having to worry about whether your significant other is tired, or their feet hurt, or you said you’d call, or they have an early start in the morning, or you’re "so old!", said in a faux–complaining voice and regretful smiles as you head out the door.
And if, at midnight, a friend calls and invites you to come out, you can just go.
And if, at two a.m., you meet someone you like, you can just kiss them, or go home with them, or just get their number.
And if, at four am, you feel like getting a slice of pizza, or a whole pizza, you can, no problem. Who’s going to care?

4. Quiet Weekends! Quiet Weekends!
Conversely, if you want to spend an entire weekend ensconced in your room, and watch Seasons 1–4 of the West Wing, and order delivery, and sleep all afternoon, and wear your rattiest sweatpants, and stalk people on facebook cause you’re just in that kind of mood, you can. You can ignore all phone calls and basically disappear from the world, without feeling too neglectful or guilty.

5. Sleeping Diagonally on the Bed
Can we just like, let go of the illusion that sharing a bed with someone is actually comfortable? It’s fine. But having an entire bed to yourself is great.

6. Not Having to Hang Out with Anyone Else’s Friends
You have your own friends, and it’s hard enough to find time to hang out with them. Sort of nice not to have to spend a Friday night hanging out with someone else’s friends, no?

7. Guiltless Flirting
Flirting is one of life’s simplest pleasures, and easiest confidence boosters. Maintain eye contact just a beat longer than normal, engage in a little repartee, touch someone’s arm, send a few playful texts that may or may not lead anywhere. Puts an extra spring in your step, doesn’t it?

8. Better Brunch Stories
Your crazy, roller coaster dating stories make you the most popular person at brunch. Your dating and hook–up stories may not end in "happily ever after," but they’re always entertaining.

9. Big Decisions Are Yours And Yours Alone to Make
If something happens in your life — a job opportunity, a lifestyle change, a sudden trip, a need for something new — you don’t have to consult anyone else. You don’t have to consider anyone else. Your decisions affect you and you alone — so you never have to compromise or turn down an opportunity for someone else.

10. The Remote Control Is Yours And Yours Alone
And you’re going to watch that Toddlers And Tiaras marathon in its entirety.

11. Eat Whatever, Whenever You Want
Something about being in a relationship seems to put a lot of pressure on meals: whereas a single person can just pour themselves a bowl of cereal for dinner, a couple will more often than not feel the need to "go get food" or put together an entire meal. You can enjoy eating without feeling the pressure of making a meal a big production.

12. You Can Have Sex With Someone Else If You Want To
People in relationships can’t.

13. Privacy
People always say that one of the pleasures of being in a relationship is finding someone with whom you can always be yourself, and do anything in front of. But, just for the moment, enjoy the fact that you don’t ever have to see or hear anyone clipping their toe nails, and vice versa.

14. Spontaneity
Couples can be spontaneous — together. Single people can decide on last minute trips, afterwork plans, or impromptu weekend activities without checking with anyone.

15. First Dates
First dates are scary, and they don’t always turn out well, but they’re always, always laced with possibility. Every first date you go on could be your last for a while, really, so enjoy the excitement, the butterflies, the hope, and the unknown. It’s something you’ll miss once you’re happily settled.

--Written by Chiara Atik for HowAboutWe.com

Weird Things Banned by Governments

It's not just San Francisco that likes banning weird things: Oddee rounds up 11 notable examples from around the world:

Australia: Porn Featuring Small Breasts

Are you an adult woman in Australia with a cup breasts? According to Australia, you don't exist. Do you happen to be a man who likes to watch adult films starring small-breasted women? According to the Australian government, you secretly love child porn. If none of this makes sense to you, then you must not work for the Australian Classification Board who has banned multiple adult films from distribution because, in their opinion, the actress' smaller breasts made them appear to be under 18.
While the law doesn't outright ban porn featuring small breasts, the ABC has the right to ban all adult films that depict a woman as being under 18. While this idea sounds fine in theory, the group has actively rejected some films based solely on the breast size of the actresses involved.

China: Game Consoles

Most game consoles are made in China and Chinese prisoners are often forced to play World of Warcraft so the government can collect their loot and sell it to other players, which is why it seems so utterly bizarre that China doesn't allow the sale of gaming consoles. The ban took place back in 2000, when the government expressed its concern that the country's youth would waste their time playing games instead of working. Even so, gamers are still permitted to buy non-console games, making the ban notably ineffective –which is probably why it is not extensively enforced.

Greece: Video Games

China's not the only country to ban video games. Greece did too, although for a much different reason. In 2002, the government tried to crack down on electric gambling machines, but their legislators wrote the law so broadly that it managed to cover all forms of electronic gaming machines –meaning all video games. Amazingly, someone was even caught and arrested for violating the poorly written law by playing an MMO in an internet café. They were actually forced to serve time in prison for playing games.
Fortunately, after receiving pressure from the EU and video gamers everywhere, the law was found to be unconstitutional by the end of the year.

China: Avatar in 2D

While the army in Avatar is undoubtedly American, the idea of people siding with an indigenous population against an imperialistic force is something that China was not comfortable with. That's why shortly after the release of the movie in China, the authorities decided the movie could only be shown in 3D. Since there are very few 3D theaters in China, the move was effectively a ban on the film.

Russia: Emo Clothing

Plenty of people don't like emo fashion, but while it's not that weird for a parent to tell their kids they can't wear that crap outside the house, it's entirely different when the whole government takes such a drastic stand. When the Russian government was trying to stop high suicide rates amongst teens though, they decided emo fashion were to blame.
The government went so far as to dub the style “a threat to national stability” before banning people from wearing emo clothing to public schools or government buildings. Don't worry sullen teens of Russia, you can still listen to all the forlorn emo music you want, you just can't dress like you listen to it.

China: Reincarnation Without Prior Consent

On the face of it, the idea of banning someone from reincarnating without obtaining the state's permission is preposterous and something they absolutely can't control. In reality though, the measure is their way to trying to take control of the Tibetan Buddhists (including the Dali Lama himself) by trying to rule over one of their most sacred beliefs.

Iran: “Western” Hair Cuts

Like many Middle Eastern governments, Iran hates the impending spread of decadent Western culture. In order to better protect their people from the depraved culture of Europe and Northponytails and spikes. Barber shops that fail to follow the law can be shut down and penalized in the years since the law took effect. America, the government of Iran has banned all hair cuts that are not included in their list of government-approved styles. Banned styles include mullets,

Saudi Arabia: Valentine's Day

Similarly, Saudi Arabia finds Valentine's Day to be in violation of Muslim beliefs. In order to ensure residents don't secretly send gifts to their Valentine's, the government orders all florists and gift shops to remove anything red or otherwise considered to be a symbol of romance prior to the holiday. Apparently the ban on the holiday isn't entirely successful and the country now has a thriving Valentine's Day black market where lovers can buy red roses and other tokens of romance at around six times their ordinary prices.

Denmark: Ovaltine and Marmite

In America, it's practically impossible to purchase milk that isn't fortified with vitamin D, but in Denmark, this would be completely illegal. That's because the country has put a ban on all fortified foods, effectively banning fortified breakfast cereals, Ovaltine and Marmite.

Update: According to the Denmark Embassy in England, it's not illegal to sell or possess Marmite, just to advertise it.

Denmark: Most Baby Names

Fortified snacks aren't the only thing Denmark wants to put an end to. The country also has some of the strictest child naming guidelines in the entire world. In fact, citizens of the country can only select names on a list approved by the government or they must seek permission from the government for an exception to the rule. Right now, the officially approved names list contains only around 7,000 names –about 3,000 for boys and 4,000 for girls.

China: Jasmine

After the “Jasmine Revolutions” in Tunisia, Chinese protestors were inspired to spark their own revolution. As a result, authorities cracked down not only on the rebels, but on the flower itself. The plant is now banned in the country, as are songs about the flower and text messages including the word “jasmine.”

Do your Brain a favor: Meditate

Humankind has developed plenty of coping mechanisms over the centuries, from long walks to hard drugs. While many of these methods have endured, not all of them are in our brains’ best interests, writes Alice Walton at Forbes. Smoking and drinking, for example, can lead to a vicious cycle of craving. Meditation, on the other hand, has long helped us get away from ourselves—and now there’s hard data showing it works. 

We know that a wandering mind can lead to unhappiness, since our untethered minds tend to drift toward our worries. When the mind is wandering, a certain set of brain cells are activated. Meditation can help us disconnect from this portion of our brains, a study finds; instead of focusing on themselves and their troubles, expert meditators can stay in the present. Their brains even seem to chaperone themselves, recognizing and fighting off self-centered thoughts. What are you waiting for? lesh meditate na :)

Facebook Timeline, Or Who Needs Baby Books?

Aye yaye yaye. Facebook’s redesign continues to grow, and now we’ve been introduced to some sort of newfangled product called Timeline. Mark Zuckerberg calls it “all the stories, all your apps, a new way to express who you are.” In other words, it’s basically 100% YOU. Or something.

Says Gizmodo:

As you move down your Timeline, it condenses your story the further back you go. It’s Time Machine for your life. In order to navigate to specific years, Timeline navigation on the right-hand side is available for users to choose a year. The timeline for each year shows users the most important Facebook posts of that year.

So now your autobiography is available to the girl that bit your face in kindergarten. She can see just how important your life is because that’s officially a thing. Still confused? Me too. Here, this vague, heartwarming video might make you feel better (or not):

 

Sleeping With The Fishes

An underwater restaurant in Maldives is currently celebrating its 5th Anniversary by being converted into an underwater hotel room, complete with a bed for two, a private champagne dinner, and breakfast in bed, all occurring 16 feet under the Indian Ocean:

AGKNELG ELGGlgmelgkelgkqm;glqm;;;;;;eee!!!!! Huhh?? Bed! Ocean! Dinner! Breakfast! Still Bed!

If you type “I want to go to there” straight into your browser and hit enter, this should instantly just appear in your brain. Actually it’d probably turn up some Bing page or something. But you’d know what it was trying to be.

Wait, no wifi? Ehhhh……Haha

check out pacman's crib..

Quote of the Day by PACMAN : "You know, this is my house so we have to put our pictures.." (may point naman si kuya)

video courtesy of MTV cribs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHh91Ru3wP4