memes

Alberto says: A meme (meem) is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture. Nowadays, memes have gone viral as they are spread through  social networks such as Facebook, Blogs, and other relevant websites

 A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.

The word meme is a shortening  of mimeme (from ancient Greek word  pronounced as: to imitate, from  "mime"  and it was coined as a concept for discussion of evolutionary principles in explaining the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena. Examples of memes given in the book included melodies, catch-phrases, fashion, and the technology of building arches.

Proponents theorize that memes may evolve by natural selection in a manner analogous to that of biological evolution. Memes do this through the processes of variation, mutation,competition, and inheritance, each of which influence a meme's reproductive success.

 Memes spread through the behavior that they generate in their hosts. Memes that propagate less prolifically may become extinct, while others may survive, spread, and (for better or for worse) mutate.

Memes that replicate most effectively enjoy more success, and some may replicate effectively even when they prove to be detrimental to the welfare of their hosts.

A field of study called memetics arose in the 1990s to explore the concepts and transmission of memes in terms of an evolutionary model. Criticism from a variety of fronts has challenged the notion that academic study can examine memes empirically.

However, developments in neuroimaging may make empirical study possible.

 Some commentators in the social sciences question the idea that one can meaningfully categorize culture in terms of discrete units, and are especially critical of the biological nature of the theory's underpinnings.

Others have argued that this use of the term is the result of a misunderstanding of the original proposal.

wedding favors from SincerityWeddings

Ellen says:Do you want to be a September bride? or December bride? In contrary to the old saying that the best month of the year to conduct weddings is June, I must tell you that these months are definitely the coolest months of the year for weddings and not any other month of the year.

Whether you agree with me or not, I must tell you that these months are the months when I usually receive Wedding Favors and wedding invitations from my former colleagues and friends. Not only that, they also seek my advice as to where they could get professional help for the rudiments of their wedding preparations.

That's why, I never hesitate to endorse sincerityweddings to them as this site offers everything that they will need in relation to their wedding preparations and all that.

Just last week, I endorsed my relative, Carol Ann to sincerityweddings because I knew that with sincerityweddings, Carol's wedding preparations will be ironed out so well the soonest possible time!

Wedding Favors are what sincerityweddings can best offer you! So, don't hesitate to go online and visit their site now for your well-sought wedding preparations!

Rallione's favorite nursery song

Ellen says: Do you know how much happier a mom could be when she sees her son in her formative years?

Yes, precisely speaking, my youngest son, Ral, who is in hie first step towards getting a formal education, is always energetic and filled with enthusiasm in his everyday going to school.

My son Rallione is indeed always eager to know more about Nursery songs. I'm glad that his teacher taught him a lot of nursery songs. One of his favorite is the the song "All around the Mulberry Bush".

Here is the Lyric of the song he usually sings with fervor and action:

All around the mulberry bush
The monkey chased the weasel.
The monkey thought 'twas all in fun.
Pop! goes the weasel.
A penny for a spool of thread,
A penny for a needle.
That's the way the money goes,
Pop! goes the weasel.
Half a pound of tuppenny rice,
Half a pound of treacle,
Mix it up and make it nice,
Pop! goes the weasel.

Renz' pet

Ellen says: I have been thinking about the reason behind my son, Rallione getting interested in having his own pet.

It's because his elder brother Renz has a small sized aquarium with lots of goldfish for his pet. Renz said that the sight and presence of fish in his room gives him great pleasure and tranquility.

Fish is the most interesting and soothing kind of pets, but they indeed are very delicate to take care of. However if you really love to raise fish as your pet just like Renz, then, it would be easy for you to take good care of it. No wonder, it's just too easy for Renz to clean the aquarium and change the water once a week. Of course, sooner or later, Rallione will learn to take care of his pet, too.

products for safety and security

Ellen says: 'Advanced Taser M18L with Laser Sight' is the best gift my niece has ever received from me as her birthday gift!

You see, my niece, Clarissa works in a manufacturing company but she is assigned by her boss on the graveyard shift.She leaves her production staff at 3:00Am,, because of this, her mom and dad are always worried about her wee-hours in the morning trips going home.

They are so anxious of her safety and security while on her way home.So, I decided to give Clarissa a big surprise last week when I handed her a package as my birthday gift to her. And she was so glad when she opened the box and it contained an M18L.

Well, now, her parents are not that worried anymore because they know that with this 'advanced taser M18L with laser sight' inside Clarissa's bag, they are assured of her safety and security while on her way home during those wee-hours in the early morning trips home.

Let me tell you a bit about this product that really gives so much confidence to women like me and Clarissa. It is an advanced non-lethal, humane self-defense kinda thing. But I tell you, it is very effective and easy to use in any scenario.

As a matter of fact, it is accredited safe by medical communities and used by over 2250 law enforcement agencies.And I should also tell you that this is the ultimate defense weapon anybody can use for her protection against several forms of harrasments!

I was assured by the company where I bought this product that 'advanced taser M18L' series has an almost 100% effectiveness rating because it actually combines the injury reducing benefits of traditional stun technology with a quantum leap in stopping power via new Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) Technology. So you see! It is indeed an amazing safeguard for me and for the fragile women who stay outdoors in the middle of the nights.

They say that in police studies, the new advanced taser has a higher instant incapacitation rate than a 9mm hand gun and it's non-lethal! The M-Series tasers are the only less lethal weapons that will stop a focused, goal oriented subject from up to 15 feet away.

Well, with this product, Clarissa is now highly assured of her safety and protection in her late night works.

As for me?, well, I got myself a 'Police Home Pepper Spray' from www.planetmace.com . It is a kind of handy product that ensures utmost protection for me whenever I go to town at nights to fetch my two kids from the evening school in which they attend.

I like this spray becuase it is so handy that no one would ever notice it inside my pouchbag.Besides that, its price is actually cheaper in its double-the-amount spray for only a buck or two extra. It actually contains four full ounces that really guards and arms you with added protection that lasts with multiple uses.

I just love the idea that this spray delivers a 15% spray that has a 12 to 15 foot range, that's why I really got this one as it ensures a total protection for me and my two toddlers. With this spray, I can easily stop assailants long before they get near enough to the three of us and cause us potential harm.

WEll, this is not only ideal for helpless mothers like me but also for those who stay outdoors whole day long like the mail carriers, meter readers, bill collectors and promo girls as well who stay in the streets for their house-to-house product promos.

I tell you, with Home Pepper Spray, you'll always have peace of mind when you have this fast acting, highly effective safeguard product available at hand.

So my friends, it is high time to get one product that ensures an utmost security to you, to your beautiful daughters and to your loved ones as well. Go and visit planetmace now and get the product that will suit your taste because you'll never know what is waiting for you once you go outside in the middle of the night!!!

when calamities come to bring havoc

I have always been very cautious that my family be assured of something that they can hold onto in times of a major catastrophic eventuality in our country.

Typhoons, earthquakes and floods are natural calamities that are inevitable and uncertain of when they will strike down.

So it is always a must for e that I have the following at hand:
Savings from my piggybank...
Savings from a reputable bank...
and a Life Insurance!!!

Need I say more?

an assurance from a life insurance

Do you need an assurance from a life insurance?.... Everybody does! For in this life that is so uncertain, we definitely need to be assured that a life insurance will give us a security blanket in our life ahead.

If I may ask you again, why do you need life insurance? Most precisely, your answer will be like something like this: "I need life insurance because it is the only way to a secured life ahead of me and my family.

Well, obviously when families make the decision to purchase life insurance, they are often in the process of experiencing a major life-altering event such as getting married, starting a family, or purchasing a home and as well as future-preparation for an untoward eventuality. that may hapeen along the way.

These major eventualities in a family is most securedly achieved and assured by the guiding light from a life insurance.

The OneDollarGlobeInsurance has a very cheap term life insurance that will take care of all our major concerns in our family.

Visit its site now for a full and complete information on the kind of insurance that will best suit and fit you and your family.

Be assured of life ahead of you! Be insured from OneDollarGlobeInsurance!

how sharp and accurate is your vision?

Gbex says: How acurate is your vision? Maybe, it is high time now to get your prescription glasses!!!...

It is very essential that you are getting the correct vision and grade that will aid you from getting the correct sight! 

Eyeglasses are not decorative eyewear, rather, they are but like medicine of your eyes that gradually corrects your vision eventually....

the best recourse...

Gbex says: Can you just imagine how I was feeling for a week now? ANXIETY!

..I have been bugged down by an anxiety because my  maid has not reported for a week already. 

So I thought that  I should get the help of an agency that takes care of hiring maids.

True enough, the agency has given me a good replacement!

Now, I am not feeling anxious anymore as my new maid is really efficient in her household chores inside my  apartment.

flowers as best accents...

Gbex says: In most gardens of residential houses and even in commercial buildings and occupancies, flowers have always been used to accentuate an atmosphere of busy life.

The presence of flowers in occupancies that are in the midst of the day's toils and whatnot, gives a certain kind of soothing comfort for their occupants and residents.

Thus, it is always a must for dwellers and residents in any dwelling place to really provide flowers and accentuate their day with the sweet scent and flowers...

a bike like jet....

Dom says: My fancy for motorbike has never waned despite the road mishap that took my memories away! Yet I still am mesmerized at how bikes make wonders on the road!
But of course, the fastest to travel without so much gas consumption is to ride on a jetbike!

What I can say about this piece of invention is that: The Jetbike's long-range fuel capacity makes it ideal for a long distance riding.

It has definitely low center of gravity and the engine provides superlative balance and control.
The engine, pump and other mechanicals are positioned at the lowest center of gravity, which prevents the Jetbike from rocking side to side with a rider on board.

silent river runs deep...

Dom says: The dirt road leading to the first signs of civilization is paralleled with a river that goes with it from the location where my monastery is located up a 6,800 feet valley in Chama district down to Abiquiu District.

During summer, Chama river, as what it is called by most of us since it is bounded by the Chama District in New Mexico, is the favorite place for boating and rafting spree of rafters and boatmen from up Colorado down to New Mexico...
I have not personally tried boating in the river but is thinking of trying the sports as soon as I get enough freetime from the routine of the monastery.

finding the best gift for the best dad...

Dom says: How sweet it is to recall and remember the golden memories of what our fathers has done for us through an occasion and a day of celebration that is just fitting and proper to honor them: FATHER'S DAY!

Is it not that our fathers has done so much for us? Yes, the efforts and time that they spent for us to make our lives better are considered as beads of golden memories.

So, in this fast approaching Father's Day, we must give them a token of appreciation and gratitude for the golden years that they had spent with us, taking care of us, supporting and protecting us from all the dangers of life that came along.

Therefore, let us give them a gold anklet as a symbol of their golden unending chains of love, support and guidance through the years of our lives. This gold anklet comes from a beautiful collection of yellow and white gold anklets but nahhh, I strongly recommend this gold anklet as it symbolizes the golden years we had spent with them.

getting rid of the scorching heat...

Dom says: the best way to get rid of the scorching heat of summer is to go boating in the sea and take a dip in its blue waters.
My relatives enjoyed the day in which I gave them my time went swimming and boating in Pasacao beach. The image below shows you how soothing it was to go dip in the waters with family members.

beat the summer heat

Gbex says: the best way to beat the summer heat is to go to the beach and score the heights of an island surrounded by the deep blue sea.

Eat our hearts out! Dom and his nieces and relatives went to Pasacao Beach and stayed for the day to quench their thirst for a cool dip in the waters and enjoy the day's cool breeze.

Time to go to the beach my friends.... Which do you prefer? Beach or a swimming pool resort? Me? I would prefer and island cruise.

the truth...living in America

@7:44AM of Wednesday USA Time, Dom says: I got an email from my friend and Oblate of the monastery, Brother Carlo, that struck me so much as the email contained issues about living life in the United States. Carlo is an OFW working in the Laboratory section of Espanyola Hospital . He used to work at St Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City Philippines but after some years, he decided to go overseas and experience life in the USA. Right now, Carlo is back in Cebu Philippines where his elder brother lives.

Although the issues did not pertain to me and does not directly and personally affect me as my life inside the monastery, even though its location is in the USA itself, does not experience such, but still, the whole issue affects me as I feel so much for my compatriots Filipino OFW's living in the USA. The email is in Filipino Language and I did not have time to translate it, so I ask my non-Filipino readers to bear with it. (but if you need me to translate it for you, please let me know.)

The message..."Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa America ka akala nila madami ka ng pera. Ang totoo, madami kang utang, dahil credit card lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili mo ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mo gumamit ng credit card para magka-credit history ka, kase pag hindi ka umutang o wala kang utang, hindi ka pagkakatiwalaan ng mga kano . Pag wala kang credit card, ibig sabihin wala kang kapasidad magbayad.

Akala nila mayaman ka na kase may kotse ka na. Ang totoo, kapag hindi ka bumili ng kotse sa America maglalakad ka ng milya-milya sa ilalim ng init ng araw o kaya sa snow. Walang jeepney, tricycle o padyak sa America ..

Akala nila masarap ang buhay dito sa America . Ang totoo, puro ka trabaho kase pag di ka nagtrabaho, wala kang pangbayad ng bills mo sa kotse, credit card, ilaw, tubig, insurance, bahay at iba pa. Hindi ka na pwedeng tumambay sa kapitbahay kase busy din sila maghanap buhay pangbayad ng bills nila.

Akala nila masaya ka kase nagpadala ka ng picture mo sa Disneyland, Seaworld, Six Flags, Universal Studios at iba pang attractions. Ang totoo, kailangan mo ngumiti kase nagbayad ka ng $70+ para makarating ka dun, kailangan mo na naman ang 10 hours na sweldo mong pinangbayad sa ticket.

Akala nila malaki na ang kinikita mo kase dolyar na sweldo mo. Ang totoo, malaki pagpinalit mo ng peso, pero dolyar din ang gastos mo sa America. Ibig sabihin ang dolyar mong kinita sa presyong dolyar mo din gagastusin. Ang P15.00 na sardinas s a Pilipinas $1.00 sa America , ang isang pakete ng sigarilyo sa pilipinas P40.00, sa America $ 6.50, ang upa mo sa bahay na P10,000 sa Pilipinas, sa America $1,000++.

Akala nila buhay milyonaryo ka na kase ang ganda ng bahay at kotse mo. Ang totoo milyon ang utang mo. Ang bago mong kotse 5 taon mong huhulugan. Ang bahay 30 taon mong huhulugan. Ibig sabihin, alipin ka ng bahay at kotse mo. Madaming naghahangad na makarating sa America . Lalo na mga nurses, mahirap maging normal na manggagawa sa Pilipinas. Madalas pagod ka sa trabaho. Pag dating ng sweldo mo, kulang pa sa pagkain mo. Pero ganun din sa ibang bansa katulad ng America . Hindi ibig sabihin dolyar na angsweldo mo, yayaman ka na, kailangan mo ding magbanat ng buto para mabuhay ka sa ibang bansa. Isang malaking sakripisyo ang pag alis mo sa bansang sinilangan at malungkot iwanan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay. Hindi pinupulot ang pera dito o pinipitas. Hindi ako naninira ng pangarap, gusto ko lang buksan ang bintana ng katotohanan."...

banquet galore....

@2:30PM USA Time, Saturday, April 12th, 2008, Dom says: WE just finished with the Buffet banquet in honor of three Vietnamese monks who professed their Solemn Vows in the ceremony that was held and was conducted at the Abbey Church of our monastery this morning at 10:30Am.

The two-hour Solemn Consecration ceremony of the three viet-monks highlighted the celebration of the Holy Eucharist which was presided by the Abbot Superior of my community Rev Abbot Philip Lawrence, OSB and was assisted by me as his Master of Ceremonies.

The long ceremony was followed shortly by a reception banquet for the guests, monks of my community and the nuns of our neighboring community for women, at the refectory in Phase three.

The banquet, as it was a buffet, gave the monks, guests, and nuns a chance to mix themselves together as they enjoyed the food that was cooked and prepared by the Vietnamese nuns of our neighboring community of the Benedictine Nuns of Our lady of The Desert, just a mile away from the monks compound. It also gave us all a chance to TALK while at table as the banquet was declared by the Abbot as a TALKING MEAL.

The following pictures were taken by no other than yours truly while the Banquet went on.

Pictures and images of the Profession Ceremonies of the three Vietnamese monks inside the Abbey Church will be posted on my next update as they will still be handed to me by brother Cecilien-the Madagascar monk who had the access to the whole Profession ceremonies with his digital camera.

The newly Professed Vietnamese monksDom John Dat (38 years old) with yours truly(52 years old)


Dom Dominic Dat (32 years old) with yours truly

Dom Peter Khoa(37 years old) with yours truly

The foods served at the Banquet table

















The monks, nuns, and guests partake the foods at the banquet table





While at the refectory, monks and nuns with guests enjoyed the food and the 'talking-meal chance' of their lifetime, LOL...





and the Sub-prior, Fr Christian (white American) together with Fr. Romualdo(Korean) and brother Anselmo(Mexican), took initiative to open the red and white wines for the banquet

Images of the Profession Ceremony at the Abbey Church will follow shortly.

i died laughing...

There's not much movies that I knew of and watched that I really died laughing, but when the kind that makes me so comes along, expect that I will race myself from others to get my ticket during its first day run at theaters.
And there is one that's forthcoming and that its trailer has been showing in Television breaks that everytime it shows up, I really could not help myself but to die in laughter. The movie I am referring here is entitled 'Manay PO Overload". Watch the trailer and you will see what I was telling you about...

PPITS...conquered.

I love going to places especially in this time of the year when the heat of summer starts to creep the depths of my bonemarrows.

So I see to it that I get a real chance to go out of town just to momentarily escape myself from the stressing scorching heat of the humid day. And one of my favorite cool places to hang around and refresh myself is PPITS -Peoples Park In The Sky.

People’s Park in the Sky is situated in Mt. Gonzales, Tagaytay City. If you can recall a bit about its history, it was envisioned to be 'Palace in the Sky' or a summer resthouse/vacation house of the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and his family. But its construction was stopped after the former dictator got himself ousted from power in the 80's.

After a series of serious deliberations, the place was turned over to the Local Government Unit and it was only then that the place was opened to public as one of Tagaytay's tourist attractions. And from its name Palace In The Sky, the historical landmark was renamed Peoples Park In The Sky.