July 27, 2009

4th Annual World eBook Fair & Free Downloads

by , in
Dear Me,

I'm not really a fan of ebooks because I prefer the smell and feel of printed paper. Although I have tons of ebooks stored in my laptop's hard disk, I find them useful when I want to read and forget to bring a book in my bag. Also, I feel appreciation on the proliferation of ebooks when a hard-to-find or hard-to-acquire book is now within my reach.




FREE access to over 2.5 million full text eBooks can be downloaded online in celebration of the 4th Annual World eBook Fair.

Having started last July 4, 2009, the Fourth Annual World eBook Fair will run till August 4, 2009.

The largest collections are sourced from the following eLibraries:

..100,000+ from Project Gutenberg
..500,000+ from The World Public Library
1,385,000+ from The Internet Archive
..250,000+ from eBooks About Everything
...17,000+ from IMSLP
__________

2,252,000+ grand total

Just a few more days to spare to download all the books I really want to have. I have been so busy lately that I still have to check my book wishlist. :)

One book that I'm looking forward to finding and reading is
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer.

I will be searching and downloading ebooks till this weekend. :)

I wonder if others have downloaded a lot of ebooks already. *hmm*
July 27, 2009

Manic Monday #13

by , in
Dear Me,

I'm doing this while listening to our president's
State of the Nation Address.




What is one thing that you would change about yourself if you could?
~ I wished I would have been more driven and determined in pursuing the things I wanted to do like studying overseas and joining summer immersions.


Name three exotic countries you would like to visit:
~
  • Florence, Italy - I'm fascinated with its history & architecture.
  • Cairo, Egypt - I'm drawn to the mystic beauty of pyramids.
  • Morocco - I would love to explore the markets of Marrakech as well as the exotic beaches along the coast.


    What do you think the secret to life is?
    ~ I think it varies for everyone who contemplates the enigmatic character or purpose of life. For me, the secret to good life would be enjoying what life has to offer and live to its fullness every moment.


  • Join us if you're having a Manic Monday.

    Have a pleasant week ahead!
    July 21, 2009

    Teaser Tuesdays For July 21

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:



      * Grab your current read.
      * Open to a random page.
      * Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
      * BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
      (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
      * Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

    I am supposed to be reading To Die In Provence by Norman Bogner but my heart wasn't in it. I checked my TBR and picked another book. I chose Blue Heaven by C.J. Box which I won courtesy of Minotaur Books.



    Here's my chosen teasers:
    "Annie caught her breath, and her heart seemed to rush up her throat and gag her. She felt a sharp pain in her arm, and for a second she thought that a stray bullet had struck her, but when she glanced down she saw it was William's two-handed grip."

    ~ page 10, Blue Heaven by C.J. Box
    July 16, 2009

    Oprah's Bookmark

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    No matter how engrossed I am in reading a book, I still have to put it down even though I don't want to. I may need to check on the little boy while he naps or see if the food I prepared is already cooked. I may have to go out to run some errands outside or simply take a pee.

    It is quite a struggle to locate the last page I have read everytime I forget to mark where I stopped reading. I abhor putting dog-ears in my book. I even detest leaving the book open face down or by putting a bulky thing in-between the pages. Obviously, they are not the proper ways of taking care of a book.

    I utilize bookmarks or anything that is flat and soft.

    Being an
    Oprah's Book Club fan, I succumbed to this easy-to-create bookmark.



    Just by following easy steps, I was able to create my own bookmark. First, select a heading (from the given choices): to whom the book belongs to, for whom the book is given as a gift, from whose library, ex libris or not using any header at all.

    Then, jot in the name that would appear in the bookmark.

    Next, select which among the ten (10) images is most appealing.

    Last, either choose a quote or make your own. There are three (3) available quotes that can be used or draft your own quote in the box with a maximum count of 150 characters. There is also the available option of having your preferred text color.

    Once done, a preview of your own bookmark design can be seen afterwards.

    Here are the two (2) bookmarks I 'designed.' I borrowed a book quote from
    Franz Kafka and used it in the second bookmark.



    They sort of look very plain to me but I know that they serve their purpose just the same. :)

    By the way, have your bookmark(s) printed in card stock or any specialty paper for a much satisfying result.
    July 13, 2009

    Win Nestle Chuckie Goodies

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    Nestle is once again giving away Chuckie goodies!



    Chuckie is a choco-flavored milk drink that is guaranteed to be a nutritious and yummy baon buddy for kids.

    Chuckie is packed with 278g of calcium, such that 2 packs of Chuckie answers 100% of your child's daily calcium requirements. Not to mention that Nestle put loads of Calci-N is a proprietary - branded active ingredient that helps kids bones absorb more calcium to help them grow taller. Calci-N has been shown to increase bone density, thereby helping to build stronger bones.

    It is also good to know that drinking 2 packs of Chuckie serves up your child's calcium requirements for the whole day. That's in line with the RENI standard, which measures dietary standards in nutrients and not foods or diets.

    What is RENI?
    RENI stands for Recommended Energy and Nutrient intake. RENI's are defined as levels of intakes of energy and nutrients which, on the basis of current scientific knowledge, are considered adequate for the maintenance of health and well-being of nearly all healthy persons.

    Chuckie also builds up your child's bones and makes them strong as it contains Calcium, Vitamin D, Phosphorous and Magnesium. And to keep your child alert and full of energy the whole day. Chuckie gives out energy-releasing nutrients such as Protein, Carbohydrates, Fat, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12.

    *as lifted off from Chuckie's Nutrition Facts

    In its desire to partner with parents in building and fortifying children's health, Chuckie would like to learn the insights and concerns of parents when it comes to raising healthy kids.

    Chuckie is giving away NESTLE CHUCKIE 1L pack for the first 300 qualified moms who will completely fill out the electronic chocoville survey.

    The promo period is from May 1, 2009 until July 31, 2009 only.
    July 12, 2009

    Calling Mommies: Win A Family Treat!

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    As an outdoor person, I have always been fond of travel escapades with family and friends. When I was still single, arranging such was quick and a bliss.

    Well, it kinda changed when I shifted my status from being single to married and with a kid. Organizing is too much when you try to coordinate with everybody's schedule and preferences and jiving them as you take into consideration your kid's comfort as well as your own.




    Anyway, MomCenter Philippines is giving mommies a chance to win a family vacation at Splash Oasis Hotel at the Splash Mountain Resort.

    Up for grab is a 3-days, 2-nights stay for a family of four at a deluxe room at the above-mentioned hotel.

    The only requirement to qualify is to answer and complete a brief survey about how the MomCenter homepage can help you better. Ten (10) registered members (like me) who successfully invite 20 friends to answer the survey will also win shopping vouchers from SM.

    This promo has started last June and will end on August 29, 2009.
    July 09, 2009

    KFC Mini Bucket Photo Contest

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    Let me tell you how my love story with
    KFC began. You see, I'm a french fries-aholic. It was a not-so-fine-day for me back in college. I got a not-so-good-result from my no-so-interesting-major-subject. I labored through the exam days ago and all I got was an unsatisfactory grade. Anyway, I went to the nearby diner to wallow my frustration munching french fries heavily dipped in thick mayo. When I got there, the diner was closed...indefinitely. Of all days, it chose to go on renovation.

    From where I stood, I looked around and two blocks away, I saw a newly-opened branch of KFC. Honestly, I haven't dined in any of their branches.

    I thought of checking it out since there was no other food establishment in sight. I ordered french fries, spaghetti and coleslaw. I instantly loved their french fries and coleslaw. To prove that I found it to my liking, I ordered them again for take-out.



    Anyway, I just learned that
    KFC has recently introduced their Mini Bucket of Fries. Just days ago, I was able to try this mini bucket of crispy fries. Truth to be told, I was still craving for more because it was just so tasty and munchy. The mini bucket was simply not enough for me. I wonder if they will have a biggie bucket of fries?! Hehehe.



    Also, to show their appreciation (to french fries-aholics and others),
    KFC is inviting everyone to participate in their KFC Mini Bucket of Fries Photo Contest.

    Just take a snapshot of you and your buddies enjoying the mouth-watering mini bucket of fries and upload it in the appointed site complete with a jargon and brief description.


    The Grand Prize:
    • One year supply of KFC (365 pieces of KFC Gift Certificates for 2-Piece Chicken valid for one year from the date of issuance)

    Consolation Prizes:
    • 5 units of Samsung C3053

    Hmm. It's only limited to the chicken meal? For one year, all 365 days? I'm sure I'll be cackling like a hen if ever. But then, free is free!

    The duration of this photo contest will run till midnight of August 21, 2009.

    For the over-all mechanics, please head on to the
    KFC Mini Bucket of Fries Promo Contest site.
    July 07, 2009

    Helpful Tips When Shopping

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    I realized that I have been spending a lot of my weekends in various shopping malls around the metro. Tagging my little boy along, I find it hard not to wander around and check what are the latest arrivals.

    Even though I have no plans of purchasing anything, I always end up with a shopping bag. The impulse was just too strong to ignore. I remembered shopping for another bag last week at
    Trinoma. I just happened to pass by and this bag caught my attention. I stopped and checked it out. I didn't have any further need to buy a new one but I bought it. I was attracted to how pretty it would looked once I donned it.

    While paying for it, I got to think how many girls had lined up in the cashier and paid for something that they didn't actually need. I was sure that I wouldn't be able to count them all in a day. No wonder why malls thrive despite the so-called economic crisis.



    image courtesy

    With the thought lingering in my mind, I jotted down some ideas that I had in a tissue paper.

    1. Try hard not to buy on an impulse. I know how difficult it can be. I, myself, shop on an impulse. Beginning today, I would think of a very important reason not to purchase anything just because I like it. Maybe, the idea of making myself guilty will help. For example, a new bag or a bag of diapers for my little boy? Which will I choose? Hehehe.


    2. Compare price and quality. I think this will be a great help. Don't just grab a beautiful item and dash to the cashier to pay for it. Look around for the same item of different brands and compare them with each other when it comes to value and price. Surely, it would be such a lucky day to spend less for the same item, don't you think? :)


    3. Do the QA thing. To detain you from shopping something right away, put in mind that that sexy top may have loose stitches. Check and inspect the item before you let the bagger pack that lovely top in the shopping bag.


    4. Leave the plastic behind. With only a thin wad of bills in your purse, you would absolutely not be able to pay for all the charming dresses or lovely blouses that you grabbed from the racks. From that pile of silky soft clothes clinging to your arms, you are forced to choose a few or even just a piece that will suit your sorely meager budget.


    5. Impulse Shopping Limit. I know that it sounds totally absurd. How can you control something when it is impulse dictating you? Hmm. It is a given that you are in a (regular) mood of impulse-buying. In this case, better (early) acquaint your rational mind in setting a peso-limit to your shopping spree to prevent sabotaging your monthly living budget.

    The thing is, it is very difficult to resist the temptation of buying something we don't need especially if we have the cash and the credit card to vouch for our purchasing power. In this persistent economic condition, I think it is just wise for us girls to be smart shoppers. :)
    July 04, 2009

    Book Picks Of The Week #1

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    I have been wandering around the blogosphere for books. I came across some great book blogs and discovered a couple of interesting reads.


    1. The Chopin Manuscript

      This is actually an audiobook wherein fifteen (15) international thriller writers rendered their creative part per chapter of the book. These are:

      Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, David Hewson, James Grady, S. J. Rozan, Erica Spindler, John Ramsey Miller, David Corbett, John Gilstrap, Joseph Finder, Jim Fusilli, Peter Spiegelman, Ralph Pezzullo, Lisa Scottoline and P. J. Parrish

      Former war crimes investigator Harold Middleton possesses a previously unknown score by Frederic Chopin. But he is unaware that, locked within its handwritten notes, lies a secret that now threatens the lives of thousands of Americans. As he races from Poland to America to uncover the mystery of the manuscript, Middleton will be accused of murder, pursued by federal agents, and targeted by assassins. But the greatest threat will come from a shadowy figure out of his past: the man known only as Faust.

      This is totally my kind of book. I read for suspense, thrill and adventure!



    2. Things I've Been Silent About: Memories

      Authored by the same person who penned the international bestseller Reading Lolita in Tehran,
      Azar Nafisi relates her personal tale of experiences, memories of growing up in Iran.

      Nafisi's intelligent and complicated mother, disappointed in her dreams of leading an important and romantic life, created mesmerizing fictions about herself, her family, and her past. But her daughter soon learned that these narratives of triumph hid as much as they revealed. Nafisi's father escaped into narratives of another kind, enchanting his children with the classic tales like the Shahnamah, the Persian Book of Kings. When her father started seeing other women, young Azar began to keep his secrets from her mother. Nafisi's complicity in these childhood dramas ultimately led her to resist remaining silent about other personal, as well as political, cultural, and social, injustices.


    3. I'm Too Sexy For My Volvo: A Mom's Guide to Staying Fabulous!

      When I gave birth to little Miguel, I started to shop hoard for mommy-related books which are truly hip and refreshing to read. I think this is one those books. :)

      First time author Betty Londergan teases and laughs her way through the first nine months and the years beyond. This fun, flip approach to pregnancy and parenting pays equal attention to minute details (clothes and mani-pedis) and larger ideas (single motherhood). Organized chronologically from conception to college, each chapter includes rules (e.g. "Rule #26: Wear anything that fits"), guest writers, funny stories and tons of hip tips. ("If your hospital is anything like mine, you are in for a boatload of freebies.") Chapters conclude with "bonus pointers" that are tantamount to survival school for mommies. ("When you don't work outside the home, it's easy for working moms...to assume that you're available for free childcare," or "make some gay friends.")


    4. Running Well

      Getting pregnant, giving birth, raising a child has totally scrapped out my favored outdoor activity, which is, mountaineering. My boy will be turning two soon and I thought that it would be the right time to getting back in shape. I considered running as my soon-to-be sport.

      Sam Murphy is a leading fitness expert in the UK and a training consultant for the London Marathon, Nike, and Adidas. Sarah Connors is a physical therapist who specializes in running injuries.

      Nothing beats the pleasure of running. Unfortunately, many runners are slowed down by injuries that could be avoided through changes in training or technique. Based on the latest scientific principles, this accessible guide shows you these techniques:

      * How to minimize the risk of injury and stay healthy
      * The differences between training and straining
      * How to strengthen and maintain the primary running muscles
      * Ways of assessing and improving technique
      * How to recognize injuries early on and avoid more serious setbacks


    5. Lolita

      This book was written by Vladimir Nabokov. I have read somewhere that this book has achieved a classic status despite its wanton reputation. Can anyone confirm that?

      Humbert Humbert is a European intellectual adrift in America, haunted by memories of a lost adolescent love. When he meets his ideal nymphet in the shape of 12-year-old Dolores Haze, he constructs an elaborate plot to seduce her, but first he must get rid of her mother. In spite of his diabolical wit, reality proves to be more slippery than Humbert's feverish fantasies, and Lolita refuses to conform to his image of the perfect lover.

    Without a doubt, I will be hunting the book shops for such titles and if ever, my mountain of TBR will forever kiss the sky. Hmm.

    I wonder if others have discovered some engaging reads lately.
    July 03, 2009

    Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs For 2009

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    I've been reading about this writing project for years. The first time was I never really understood its purpose (for I never read the whole piece of her entry). Then, I totally forgot all about it.

    The second time it was organized, I was lucky to have read through her explanation about this online writing project. I was meaning to rally my nominees but work was too demanding that it brought me to other places.

    Last May 2009, the
    Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009 Writing Project was launched for the 3rd time. This time, I am participating. :)

    To explain, this writing project is an annual offering by
    Ms. Janette Toral who manages Influential Blogger. It targets blogs that simply shine just as they are. Well, it actually depends on how one would perceive a certain blog.

    At random, I have selected my ten (10) blogs because they coincide with my passion, are informative and relevant, project good writing, etc.


    This is the final list.


    1. Cebu Bloggers Society - I think they are one of fast-rising regional blog in the country. I am pleased that there is an organized blogger group from the Queen of the South. I have been to Cebu a lot of times and together with Baguio City, I consider it my second home. I love everything about it - its food, destinations, people, culture and its very diversity. I am just happy that these bloggers will introduce and promote more their very heritage.


    2. Delamar's Brain Farts - Delamar will always be my favorite Monster RX lady. She is witty, wacky and I would be star-struck and in Cloud 9 just to spend a day with her. Di naman ako tomboy eh. :)


    3. The Accidental Teacher - As a first-time mom to my one-year old boy, I admire Ria's refreshing style of sharing learning to kids inside and outside the four walls of the classroom. For me, little kids learn more when they're being interactive.


    4. Batang Lakwatsero - I don't know the owner of this blog but I enjoy his experiences in the course of his travels. I hope to see more exciting stories from this blog.


    5. Pinoy Cravings - I accidentally bump into this blog one time while searching for Ma Mon Luk. I literally spent my siesta time reading his blog archives while my little boy takes his power nap. There are only two things that come to mind: Melo's food photography makes my mouth water and the stories behind each food shot totally fuel my cravings.


    6. Style and Relax - I haven't met (yet) the lady behind this blog. I love reading Lace's fashion and lifestyle tips. I am not a fashionista. I love climbing mountains and getting rough like the boys. Bumping into her blog has nurtured a longing for me to start caring for my physical beauty. Ehem. :)


    7. Let's Go Sago - I love Jonel's travel and food blog. I admire the content and composition of his entries. It excites me to read through tales of a recent escapade, a peek of a cake shop's newest delectable offerings plus great freebies!


    8. Bookmarked! - I love books and I rarely see book blogs here in the country. I have come to know Blooey in a book-swapping site and later on, in a book club. She does book reviews so well that I sometimes do not want to finish reading them because most of the books she reads are all piled up in my TBR. She's quite a fast reader. Hehehe.


    9. Philippine Freebies, Promos, Contests and More! - I love freebies and participating in contests. I am excited everytime Boy Kuripot posts his updates on the latest promos in town.


    10. Raising Filipino Boys: Parenting Guide For Filipino Fathers - I rarely encounter male bloggers who talk about their insights about family, most specifically PARENTING. Marvin put up his blog "to raise awareness among Filipino men about thoughts and behaviors that we transmit to our kids everyday, especially to our sons aged eight years old and below." Being a new mom, I want to gain insights and learn experiences about proper parenting from those who know better.


    If your curiosity is piqued and you may probably want to join, please check out all the details at Ms. Toral's entry about this writing project for 2009.

    This writing project is made possible by the following sponsors: Absolute Traders, My Brute Cheats, Business Summaries, Fitness Advantage Club, Events and Corporate Video, Events at Work, Dominguez Marketing Communications, Red Mobile, Budget Hotel in Makati, Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies and Blog4Reviews.com.
    July 01, 2009

    Poetry Writing Contest: Tulaan Sa Tren

    by , in
    Dear Me,

    I love poems. I love reading them. I even love composing them.

    Back in my high school years, I was fond of weaving lines about nature, dreams and friendship. Those were the subjects that fueled my creative mind to jot words even in a tissue paper.

    I wonder if there are still a lot of people who love the power of words in a poem. Are you one of them?




    The National Book Development Board (NBDB), Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), Vibal Foundation, and the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) are giving aspiring poets a chance to have their poems posted in LRT trains as part of the Tulaan sa Tren readership promotion campaign:

    1. The contest is open from 22 June 2009 until 22 July 2009 to all Filipino citizens of all ages.

    2. The NBDB will accept original, unpublished poems with the theme Journeys/Paglalakbay. Entries may be in English, Filipino, or any of the regional languages (with English or Tagalog translation if written in a regional language) and should be up to 200 words long. Only one (1) poem per author will be accepted.

    3. The Board of Judges will select three (3) winners each for the English and Filipino categories. For each category, the Grand Prize winner will receive P5,000.00, second prize winner will receive P3,000.00, and third prize winner will receive P2,000.00. Winning entries will be posted in LRT trains alongside the works of established Filipino poets and will be published in a compilation of Tulaan sa Tren 2 poems. The NBDB shall share copyright with the authors for their winning poems for purposes of broadcast and/or publication in the NBDB's readership campaigns.

    4. Entries must be submitted along with the Official Entry Form. The author's name and address must only appear in the Official Entry Form and must not appear on the entry. Entries may be e-mailed to tulaansatren@nbdb.gov.ph. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or sent postmarked no later than July 22, 2009 to:

      Office of the Executive Director
      National Book Development Board
      2/F NPO Bldg.
      EDSA cor. NIA Northside Road
      Diliman, Quezon City

    5. The winners will be contacted by the NBDB prior to the launch of Tulaan sa Tren 2 and will be awarded during the project launch tentatively set in August.

    The Official Entry Form can be accessed at the National Book Development Board (NBDB) webpage.

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