photo of the week

Via Flickr:

Amazing bee capture

Thanks to Cate Cuerden

site of the day

Was recently contacted by someone from Spot.ph regarding permission to use a photo of mine for an upcoming story, so i decided to check the site out. I am living vicariously through this e-magazine, wistfully recalling my brief time in Manila. I really like the food section - Makes me so hungry...
Am attaching a photo of me and my old pal Jollibee :)

Nice!

Where was this when i was pregnant?

Runpee

Lets you know beforehand what parts of a movie you can afford to miss if you need a bathroom break! Because nobody likes to sit through a movie spending 94 minutes going god, i hope they hook up soon so i can go pee! Or hurry up and diffuse the bomb, so I can go pee!

well he wasn't digging a hole TO China

I wonder what his wife thought:
Man digs hole in his kitchen to catch fish
From Ananova

Twitter more than just twits?

I know I'm one of millions of hacks ponificating on the subject of the events allegedly involving Perez Hilton and members of the Black Eyed Peas.

Social software is a personal and professional interest to me, so the fact that Twitter is involved piqued my interest more than the celebrities (or celebrity-bloggers) involved. Perez Hilton used his Twitter account to reach out to his followers, giving his account of the scuffle after the MuchMusic Video Awards.

Twitter is becoming a fast favourite of many "public personalities" as a way of reaching out to fans. It seems everyone from Christopher Walken to Ellen Degeneres has an account. Most of these accounts are brief profound thoughts these celebs have probably while gazing deeply into their own navels.

My question is, if you feel as if you are in personal danger, of a rather immediate nature, is Twitter an appropriate tool to use to get help? Most people today are constantly connected via their choice of electronic tools, so obviously people would get the message, but I feel that the nature of his cry for help screams suspiciously of attention-seeking. It's entirely possible that he actually did fear for his life, but doesnt it seem more like he feared for his fame?
Perez HiltonVideo statement

Book Review: Wetlands

True fact: I was too embarassed to take this book out of my public library. My local branch is quite small, and the manager has a terrible habit of commenting on my reading choices (exhibit A: Bonk: the curious coupling of science and sex - by Mary Roach)

A friend of mine was kind enough to lend it to me (she purchased it from amazon.ca) I devoured it in a matter of hours (spread over the course of a few days, I'm a mother!!)

The surrounding this book lead me to believe it should be handed out in a brown paper cover, but once inside there is nothing scary or even overtly kinky going on. True the heroine has a lot of sexual experience for an 18 year old (or does she?) and the story revolves around her ass and its trials. Honestly though, this book is a thoughtful, insightful and goddamn refreshing read. I cherish Helen's honesty, and her opinions (washing fruit to rid it of pesticides is useless) and I completely agree with her hate on for the American "feminine hygeine" industry, because, it is just that, an industry!

Before I started reading, i asked the friend i was borrowing it from if the avocado was involved in something kinky in the story (yes my mind went there, didnt yours?) Helen grows avocados from pits, she really has it down to quite a science, and brings them with her to the hospital while she convalesces from her surgery.

I laughed out loud at several instances in Wetlands, agreed with many situations and ideas, was shocked by a few and overall enjoyed the unique tone and wit throughout. Please, set aside any qualms you may have had and read this book - carry it home cover facing out!

In my neighbourhood

This booklet needs to go onto my to-read list: The Miracle In Preston: the story of the Preston Springs Hotel. I drive by the now derelict but dignified remains of this building pretty regular, and I'm always thirsty for more information about it. Local lore of course is that its haunted. There are some pretty great pictures on flickr, though I personally would never have the guts to go inside (for fear of the law as much as ghosts). Apparently it was built on the site of an underground spring noted for centuries for its healing properties, and has, through the years been a celebrated hotel and spa, retirement residence, and failed investment property on several different occasions. It looms large at the intersection, and also in my imagination.

Chocolate or...

I havent decided if this is creepy yet : Billboards that can tell what you crave
This goes in the same category as ads in my email inbox that use text keywords to tailor the ads. Also Facebook. Maybe its being an '80s baby but i quickly gained immunity to them, much the same way that I rarely notice commercials on television. I'm sure these are great for marketing products with specific audiences in mind, but where's the line between filling the market and edging into our private selves?

via Popgadget

Thoughts on fishing- but not really

You know that saying, if you give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he never goes hungry (or something to that effect)? Setting aside for the moment any misgivings I have about the use of "man", generally I think this saying has quite a bit of truth in it.
Last December a friend of mine turned me on to Kiva.org, a web organization that gives micro-loans to small business entrepreneurs in developing cultures. Kiva really embodies the spirit of teaching one to fish. You read through the bios of people and their ventures and you can give them a loan, which is then paid back to you at the end of an agreed upon period of time.
So far i've made a few loans to different ventures (mostly in S.E. Asia). Somehow its gratifying to think that my 25 dollars enables someone to support themselves. I've always been suspicious of "charities", but I think Kiva is different for sure. One thing to note, however, is that if you are in Canada, you can't claim Kiva loans as charitable donations on your taxes.
Is it wrong that Kiva makes me feel all warm and fuzzy? As I sit here in my comfortable climate-controlled middle class home? meh...