Vocabulary Booster: Wave 2

Every day I eagerly await Fox News Channel's "The Factor" with Bill O'Reilly. There is never a dull moment in the show. Mr. O'Reilly's topics are always about interesting news and events that may impact our daily life.

The best part of the show for me is the #Factor Word of the Day. It is interesting to learn about a new word, how it is used and its etymology. 

Allow me to share with you my love for languages and the latest group of words I have learned.

1.  SALUBRIOUS

An adjective meaning "beneficial," "good for one's health"

Its origin came from the Latin word "salubris"  meaning "safe, healthy"

"We should encourage our children to practice the salubrious habit of eating a generous serving of fruit daily."

2. PARVENU

A noun used to refer to a person who achieves sudden wealth. It is also defined as one that has recently or suddenly risen to an unaccustomed position of wealth or power and has not yet gained the prestige, dignity or manner associated with it.

Its origin is from the French word "parvenir" meaning "to arrive." It also has Latin origin, "pervenire" which means "to come"

"Despite his multi-million winnings from the Lottery, Jose could not escape being labeled a parvenu by the elite members of society."

3. INGANNATION

A word that simply means "Deception" or "Cheating"

The etymology is unknown and is no longer listed in Merriam Webster's dictionary. 

"Be wary of get-rich quick business schemes. These have ingannation written between the lines."

Credits:

www.billoreilly.com/factor-words-of-the-day

www.merriam-webster.com

www.phrontistery.into

Foam Home

Photo credits: www.pets4u.info

I am a hands down dog lover. My heart melts every time I see those cute little fur balls! Dogs blend into a family very well. They are affectionate, loyal and protective. Dogs are definitely a man's best friend. 

Isn't it just proper to care for a family member by giving them a nice place to rest? They too, deserve a bed of their own. There are a lot of pet beds in the market, however, we should use our best judgment before we purchase. 

We must choose one made of high quality durable material. A pet bed must provide our beloved furry pal comfort and proper aeration, like foam with an egg crate design. Look no further! Enjoy hassle free shopping by browsing a wide array of sizes and shapes. You can get all of these and more! Simply order your choice of  foam by mail. 

Their pet beds come in various sizes, from 16" x 22" to 40" x 56," with a non-removable comfy 100% cotton twill fabric in 8 different colors to choose from. They also provide you an option to purchase a zippered twill cover, also in 8 different colors. 

If you have more than one pet needing a bed, you can be assured of free shipping for orders over $75! Now that's a great deal! 

What are you waiting for? Spread the love and raise a happy pet.

Oh, and have I told you that they do have other great products? Their foam sacks are a must have in every family room! Check it out!

The Moon: Beauty Beyond Words

When I was growing up, I had this dream of becoming an astronaut. My fascination with the world beyond the earth could have been fueled by all the hype about the Apollo missions. I am still at awe every time I look up at the night sky. I can spend hours watching the moon and stars.

I try to capture pictures of the night sky as best as I can. Here are some crude pics from my collection. 

The full moon with a halo.

A cloudy night sky

The sky at dusk

The moon's last quarter

I will continue to look up at the sky and be amazed at the greatness of God's creation. 

Peace and love everyone.

Sit Back and Capture Nature's Best

Taking pictures of wildlife can pose a big challenge. You may have the best DSLR camera to capture pictures of animals in their natural habitat however, the risk of putting our lives on the line may not be worth it. A trail camera is the best alternative for nature photographers. 

Before you go purchase one, make sure you do your research. One reputable company, Trailcampro.com offers in depth, professional Trail Camera Ratings. They provide camera specs, battery life information, and sample pictures. They ensure you will be perfectly matched with a camera that suits your needs. 

Allowing you to know the product before the actual purchase is the best way to boost customer satisfaction. So why look further? Your career in nature photography begins with just a few strokes on the keyboard.   

Practical Application of Newton's Three Laws of Motion

The world we live in is all about science. Every thing that affects our daily existence can be explained by scientific facts. Its all about force, gravity, cellular activity, motion, etc.

That being said, I thought about Sir Isaac Newton's 3 Laws of Motion and how it applies to the workplace.

So here goes:

The First Law of Motion (The Law of Inertia):

An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. An object in motion will remain in motion with the same speed and same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

The boss in the background is the unbalanced force that will act upon the object at rest.

The Second Law of Motion:

Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass, the greater the amount of force needed to accelerate the object. 

The Second Law can be expressed as a mathematical equation, 

Force = Mass x Acceleration.

The greater the workload, the more effort you put in to get achieve task completion by end of week

The Third Law of Motion:

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Pushing a colleague over their limit will be met with corresponding resistance to follow

Are the other Laws of Science that you can think of that can be applied in your workplace? I would love to hear your stories too.

Take the High Road with i-ROAD

Traffic armageddon has begun in Metro Manila. The construction of the Skyway 3 and the NAIAEx Phase 2 has turned the capital's 19 kilometer main thoroughfare into a giant parking lot.

Thousands upon thousands of vehicles take to this road every day en route to work, school, or places of business. Blocking some lanes to give way to road construction and improvements can turn into a nightmare for its 12 million residents - a nightmare we have to endure for the next 4 years. I cannot imagine sitting in traffic for more than 2 hours to get home. Furthermore, the emissions coming from all the vehicles could make the pollution index increase drastically putting us at risk of developing respiratory illnesses. Is this the price we have to pay for economic development?

Technology has provided us a better alternative to go about our daily commute. Electric vehicles (EVs) are economical, convenient and totally emission free. It provides a quiet, comfortable driving experience without the worry of causing damage to the environment.

Leading the pack in innovation, Toyota gives us the i-ROAD, a three-wheeled electric vehicle that offers the maneuverability of a motorbike combined with the comfort and safety of a compact car. The active lean mechanism gives its driver a feeling of being one with the machine. Its unique mobility design makes navigation through narrow streets smooth and easy. What's cool is that its ultra compact size takes up very little parking space!

In this day and age, a small, cost efficient electric vehicle such as the i-ROAD is our best option. It would help us get from point A to point B in a breeze. We don't have to wait in line at gas stations. We can charge its batteries at home while we sleep. I will help ease the traffic congestion because it is so compact. It also helps keep the environment clean and green. What else could be better?

Take the high road with i-ROAD!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Toyota. The opinions and text are all mine.

Get Ahead with a Good Drum Head

So the time has come for you to replace your drum heads. Then the question pops up in your mind - "What kind of drum heads should I get?"

Assess you playing style. Are you more of a jazz, acoustic or light rock drummer? Or are you the R&B, funk, and heavy metal kind? The choice of drum heads is dependent on the kind of music genre that you play. 

Drum heads come in single/one-ply or two-ply variants. The classic aquarian drum heads at wwbw are single ply drum heads that provide sensitive response and produce a rich, brightly resonant sound. If you are unsure of whether to get one-ply or two-ply drum heads, I would suggest the one-ply clear drum heads because it offers full frequencies from top to bottom suitable for all playing styles. There is nothing more satisfying than having drum heads that give high performance and versatility. 

Then and Now

I had a blast looking at old photographs of my children. It seems just like yesterday that they were still in diapers. Motherhood is such a rewarding experience. To witness your child's every milestone achievement is so heartwarming.

Here are my children's  "Then" and "Now" pictures. Sharing with you a happy moment I had last night.

Kristine Anne ("Tin-tin")

Then: 8 months

Now: 26 years old

Irvin Jason ("Aton")

Then: 4 months

Now: 22 years old

John Michael Clarence ("Mickey")

Then: 5 months

Now: 20 years old

Half the Deal is the Eye Appeal

I have yet to learn of a bass guitar player with only one guitar. These artists usually have two or three, maybe more. It could be the kind of strings, the neck, the shape of the guitar body, or even the kind of gig they would be performing in. The rationale behind this is to enable them to produce the particular sound for a particular genre. 

One great set of guitars to choose from is the new b.c. rich bass guitar. The Mocking Bird ST Model is my personal choice. It has an ergonomically designed mahogany body for easy handling and playing. Its classic design would blend in any kind of performance - jazz, rock, blues, or pop. The tobacco burst color is so cool! Aside from the design of the guitar, the best thing is the full bass tones you get with every strum. 

Definitely a good investment!

Travel Fun in the Metro

I was born and raised in #Quezon City Philippines. I could not even imagine living anywhere else! I love the hustle and bustle of the big city. I love the convenience of living close to shopping malls, major grocery stores, churches, schools, hospitals, private corporations and government offices. My neighborhood is full of friendly people, ready to greet you with a smile and best of all, its flood free!

Getting around could be overwhelming for someone who arrived in Metro Manila for the first time. Let me show you the modes of transportation we usually take to get from point A to point B.

1. The tricycle

The vehicle of choice for short trips of not more than 2 kilometers. In the area where I live, the fare is Php17.00 per trip, maximum of two passengers. A third passenger would cost an additional Php8.00.

2. The Jeepney

Originally crafted out of old World War II jeeps, these vehicles can now accommodate up to 24 people inside the cab. Now called the "Jeepney," this vehicle plies most major roads (except EDSA), bringing students, employees, and any other passenger to their destinations. Baseline fare for a 4 kilometer ride is Php8.00

Another variant of the Jeepney is called the "FX," which is an airconditioned asian utility vehicle carrying only 10 passengers maximum. This is the vehicle of choice if you want to travel with a little more comfort.

Colorful jeepneys doing their daily routes

Guess who? Its Vin Diesel taking a jeepney ride in the Makati Business District

Vin Diesel getting off the jeepney

3. The Bus

Buses take the daily commuters along Metro Manila's major thoroughfares - EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Ortigas Avenue and others. Taking the bus would be the best choice if you want to be guaranteed a seat - unless of course you get caught up in the rush hour madness. They can fill those buses tighter than a can of sardines.

A bus with free wi-fi. Keep yourself busy with your smartphone while stuck in traffic

4. The Commuter Trains

There are 3 major commuter train lines operating in Metro Manila. There is Light Rail Transit Line1 (LRT Line 1) that goes from Balintawak to Monumento. The LRT Line 2 connects with Line 1 at the Recto/Doroteo Jose Station in Manila. LRT Line 2 stretches from Santolan, Pasig to Recto, Manila. Passengers on this line are mostly students because of the numerous colleges and universities located along its route. The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay. This line runs alongside EDSA, Metro Manila's main highway. People from the working class take this train and it can really get jampacked during rush hour. It sometimes makes you feel that your face got swapped with somebody else's.

Light Rail Transit Line 1

Light Rail Transit Line 2

Metro Rail Transit

5. The Feet

For really short trips to the grocery store, drug store or wet market, or sometimes a school or church, the best way to go is to walk. No traffic, no throngs of people, no rush.

Travel safely, everyone!