My random thought for the day and the road that still has not been taken

This was one of the first poems I read when I was a kid. When I first read this, the context was that of a nine-year-old kid, whose burdens included among others which I do not want to delve into at this point, the usual scratches and knee scrapes, adolescence, puberty, that really awkward phase. Well, in this day and age, we all still have to deal with the aches and pains of growing up, albeit on an entirely new and infinitely more mundane level, the road not take takes on an entirely new meaning. At this point, risks aren’t very easy to take, and like all butterflies-in-the-stomach-inducing and anvil-on-my-head-ish things, they come along quite a bit. Personally, I’m not a big fan of risk-taking when it comes to the big things. I set a path for myself when I was nine, and I haven’t veered too far from it since. I like being secure when it comes to the things that matter. I live vicariously through the little spontaneous things I do, which don’t really figure much in the grand scheme of things. So, well, enjoy… The rest of our lives is yet to come. The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

John Gokongwei Jr.'s Ad Congress Speech

John Gokongwei, Jr.
Ad Congress Speech
Nov 21, 2007

Before I begin, I want to say please bear with me, an 81-year-old man who just flew in from San Francisco 36 hours ago and is still suffering from jet lag. However, I hope I will be able to say what you want to hear.

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Thank you very much for having me here tonight to open the Ad Congress. I know how important this event is for our marketing and advertising colleagues. My people get very excited and go into a panic, every other year, at this time.

I would like to talk about my life, entrepreneurship, and globalization. I would like to talk about how we can become a great nation.

You may wonder how one is connected to the other, but I promise that, as there is truth in advertising, the connection will come.

Let me begin with a story I have told many times. My own.

I was born to a rich Chinese-Filipino family. I spent my childhood in Cebu where my father owned a chain of movie houses, including the first air-conditioned one outside Manila. I was the eldest of six children and lived in a big house in Cebu's Forbes Park.

A chauffeur drove me to school everyday as I went to San Carlos University, then and still one of the country's top schools. I topped my classes and had many friends. I would bring them to watch movies for free at my father's movie houses.

When I was 13, my father died suddenly of complications due to typhoid. Everything I enjoyed vanished instantly. My father's empire was built on credit. When he died, we lost everything our big house, our cars, our business to the banks.

I felt angry at the world for taking away my father, and for taking away all that I enjoyed before. When the free movies disappeared, I also lost half my friends. On the day I had to walk two miles to school for the very first time, I cried to my mother, a widow at 32. But she said: "You should feel lucky. Some people have no shoes to walk to school. What can you do? Your father died with 10 centavos in his pocket."

So, what can I do? I worked.

My mother sent my siblings to China where living standards were lower. She and I stayed in Cebu to work, and we sent them money regularly. My mother sold her jewelry. When that ran out, we sold roasted peanuts in the backyard of our much-smaller home. When that wasn't enough, I opened a small stall in a palengke. I chose one among several palengkes a few miles outside the city because there were fewer goods available for the people there. I woke up at five o'clock every morning for the long bicycle ride to the palengke with my basket of goods.

There, I set up a table about three feet by two feet in size. I laid out my goods: soap, candles, and thread and kept selling until everything was bought. Why these goods? Because these were hard times and this was a poor village, so people wanted and needed the basics soap to keep them clean, candles to light the night, and thread to sew their clothes.

I was surrounded by other vendors, all of them much older. Many of them could be my grandparents. And they knew the ways of the palengke far more than a boy of 15, especially one who had never worked before.

But being young had its advantages. I did not tire as easily, and I moved more quickly. I was also more aggressive. After each day, I would make about 20 pesos in profit! There was enough to feed my siblings and still enough to pour back into the business. The pesos I made in the palengke were the pesos that went into building the business I have today.

After this experience, I told myself, " If I can compete with people so much older than me, if I can support my whole family at 15, I can do anything! "

Looking back, I wonder, what would have happened if my father had not left my family with nothing? Would I have become the man I am? Who knows?

The important thing to know is that life will always deal us a few bad cards. But we have to play those cards the best we can. And WE can play to win!

This was one lesson I picked up when I was a teenager. It has been my guiding principle ever since. And I have had 66 years to practice self-determination. When I wanted something, the best person to depend on was myself.

And so I continued to work. In 1943, I expanded and began trading goods between Cebu and Manila. From Cebu, I would transport tires on a small boat called a batel. After traveling for five days to Lucena, I would load them into a truck for the six- hour trip to Manila. I would end up sitting on top of my goods so they would not be stolen! In Manila, I would then purchase other goods from the earnings I made from the tires, to sell in Cebu.

Then, when WWII ended, I saw the opportunity for trading goods in post-war Philippines. I was 20 years old. With my brother Henry, I put up Amasia Trading which imported onions, flour, used clothing, old newspapers and magazines, and fruits from the United States. In 1948, my mother and I got my siblings back from China. I also converted a two-story building in Cebu to serve as our home, office, and warehouse all at the same time. The whole family began helping out with the business.

In 1957, at age 31, I spotted an opportunity in corn-starch manufacturing. But I was going to compete with Ludo and Luym, the richest group in Cebu and the biggest corn starch manufacturers. I borrowed money to finance the project. The first bank I approached made me wait for two hours, only to refuse my loan. The second one, China Bank, approved a P500,000-peso clean loan for me. Years later, the banker who extended that loan, Dr. Albino Sycip said that he saw something special in me. Today, I still wonder what that was, but I still thank Dr. Sycip to this day.

Upon launching our first product, Panda corn starch, a price war ensued. After the smoke cleared, Universal Corn Products was still left standing. It is the foundation upon which JG Summit Holdings now stands.

Interestingly, the price war also forced the closure of a third cornstarch company, and one of their chemists was Lucio Tan, who always kids me that I caused him to lose his job. I always reply that if it were not for me, he will not be one of the richest men in the Philippines today.

When my business grew, and it was time for me to bring in more people my family, the professionals, the consultants, more employees I knew that I had to be there to teach them what I knew. When dad died at age 34, he did not leave a succession plan. From that, I learned that one must teach people to take over a business at any time. The values of hard work that I learned from my father, I taught to my children. They started doing jobs here and there even when they were still in high school. Six years ago, I announced my retirement and handed the reins to my youngest brother James and only son Lance. But my children tease me because I still go to the office every day and make myself useful. I just hired my first Executive Assistant and moved into a bigger and nicer office.

Building a business to the size of JG Summit was not easy. Many challenges were thrown my way. I could have walked away from them, keeping the
business small, but safe. Instead, I chose to fight. But this did not mean I won each time.

By 1976, at age 50, we had built significant businesses in food products anchored by a branded coffee called Blend 45, and agro-industrial products under the Robina Farms brand. That year, I faced one of my biggest challenges, and lost. And my loss was highly publicized, too. But I still believe that this was one of my defining moments.

In that decade, not many business opportunities were available due to the political and economic environment. Many Filipinos were already sending their money out of the country. As a Filipino, I felt that our money must be invested here. I decided to purchase shares in San Miguel, then one of the Philippines' biggest corporations. By 1976, I had acquired enough shares to sit on its board.

The media called me an upstart. "Who is Gokongwei and why is he doing all those terrible things to San Miguel?" ran one headline of the day. In another article, I was described as a pygmy going up against the powers-that-be. The San Miguel board of directors itself even paid for an ad in all the country's top newspapers telling the public why I should not be on the board. On the day of reckoning, shareholders quickly filled up the auditorium to witness the battle. My brother James and I had prepared for many hours for this debate. We were nervous and excited at the same time.

In the end, I did not get the board seat because of the Supreme Court Ruling. But I was able to prove to others and to myself that I was willing to put up a fight. I succeeded because I overcame my fear, and tried. I believe this battle helped define who I am today. In a twist to this story, I was invited to sit on the board of Anscor and San Miguel Hong Kong 5 years later. Lose some, win some.

Since then, I've become known as a serious player in the business world, but the challenges haven't stopped coming.

Let me tell you about the three most recent challenges. In all three, conventional wisdom bet against us. See, we set up businesses against market Goliaths in very high-capital industries: airline, telecoms, and beverage.

Challenge No. 1: In 1996, we decided to start an airline. At the time, the dominant airline in the country was PAL, and if you wanted to travel cheaply, you did not fly. You went by sea or by land.

However, my son Lance and I had a vision for Cebu Pacific: We wanted every Filipino to fly.

Inspired by the low-cost carrier models in the United States, we believed that an airline based on the no-frills concept would work here. No hot meals. No newspaper. Mono-class seating. Operating with a single aircraft type. Faster turn around time. It all worked, thus enabling Cebu Pacific to pass on savings to the consumer.

How did we do this? By sticking to our philosophy of "low cost, great value."

And we stick to that philosophy to this day. Cebu Pacific offers incentives. Customers can avail themselves of a tiered pricing scheme, with promotional seats for as low a P1. The earlier you book, the cheaper your ticket.

Cebu Pacific also made it convenient for passengers by making online booking available. This year, 1.25 million flights will be booked through our website. This reduced our distribution costs dramatically.

Low cost. Great value.

When we started 11 years ago, Cebu Pacific flew only 360,000 passengers, with 24 daily flights to 3 destinations. This year, we expect to fly more than five million passengers, with over 120 daily flights to 20 local destinations and 12 Asian cities. Today, we are the largest in terms of domestic flights, routes and destinations.

We also have the youngest fleet in the region after acquiring new Airbus 319s and 320s. In January, new ATR planes will arrive. These are smaller planes that can land on smaller air strips like those in Palawan and Caticlan. Now you don't have to take a two-hour ride by mini-bus to get to the beach.

Largely because of Cebu Pacific, the average Filipino can now afford to fly. In 2005, 1 out of 12 Filipinos flew within a year. In 2012, by continuing to offer low fares, we hope to reduce that ratio to 1 out of 6. We want to see more and more Filipinos see their country and the world!

Challenge No. 2: In 2003, we established Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. and developed a brand for the mobile phone business called Sun Cellular.
Prior to the launch of the brand, we were actually involved in a transaction to purchase PLDT shares of the majority shareholder.

The question in everyone's mind was how we could measure up to the two telecom giants. They were entrenched and we were late by eight years! PLDT held the landline monopoly for quite a while, and was first in the mobile phone industry. Globe was a younger company, but it launched digital mobile technology here.

But being a late player had its advantages. We could now build our platform from a broader perspective. We worked with more advanced technologies and intelligent systems not available ten years ago. We chose our suppliers based on the most cost-efficient hardware and software. Being a Johnny-come-lately allowed us to create and launch more innovative products, more quickly.

All these provided us with the opportunity to give the consumers a choice that would rock their world. The concept was simple. We would offer Filipinos to call and text as much as they want for a fixed monthly fee. For P250 a month, they could get in touch with anyone within the Sun network at any time. This means great savings of as much as 2/3 of their regular phone bill! Suddenly, we gained traction. Within one year of its introduction, Sun hit one million customers.

Once again, the paradigm shifts - this time in the telecom industry. Sun's 24/7 Call and Text unlimited changed the landscape of mobile-phone usage.

Today, we have over 4 million subscribers and 2000 cell sites around the archipelago. In a country where 97% of the market is pre-paid, we believe we have hit on the right strategy.

Sun Cellular is a Johnny-come-lately, but it's doing all right. It is a third player, but a significant one, in an industry where Cassandras believed a third player would perish. And as we have done in the realm of air travel, so have we done in the telecom world: We have changed the marketplace.

In the end, it is all about making life better for the consumer by giving them choices.

Challenge No. 3: In 2004, we launched C2, the green tea drink that would change the face of the local beverage industry -- then, a playground of cola companies. Iced tea was just a sugary brown drink served bottomless in restaurants. For many years, hardly was there any significant product innovation in the beverage business.

Admittedly, we had little experience in this area. Universal Robina Corporation is the leader in snack foods but our only background in beverage was instant coffee. Moreover, we would be entering the playground of huge multinationals. We decided to play anyway.

It all began when I was in China in 2003 and noticed the immense popularity of bottled iced tea. I thought that this product would have huge potential here. We knew that the Philippines was not a traditional tea-drinking country since more familiar to consumers were colas in returnable glass bottles. But precisely, this made the market ready for a different kind of beverage. One that refreshes yet gives the health benefits of green tea. We positioned it as a "spa" in a bottle. A drink that cools and cleans thus, C2 was born.

C2 immediately caught on with consumers. When we launched C2 in 2004, we sold 100,000 bottles in the first month. Three years later, Filipinos
drink around 30 million bottles of C2 per month. Indeed, C2 is in a good place.

With Cebu Pacific, Sun Cellular, and C2, the JG Summit team took control of its destiny. And we did so in industries where old giants had set the rules of the game. It's not that we did not fear the giants. We knew we could have been crushed at the word go. So we just made sure we came prepared with great products and great strategies. We ended up changing the rules of the game instead.

There goes the principle of self-determination, again. I tell you, it works for individuals as it does for companies. And as I firmly believe, it works for nations.

I have always wondered, like many of us, why we Filipinos have not lived up to our potential. We have proven we can. Manny Pacquiao and Efren Bata Reyes in sports. Lea Salonga and the UP Madrigal Singers in performing arts. Monique Lhuillier and Rafe Totenco in fashion. And these are just the names made famous by the media. There are many more who may not be celebrities but who have gained respect on the world stage.

But to be a truly great nation, we must also excel as entrepreneurs before the world. We must create Filipino brands for the global market place.

If we want to be philosophical, we can say that, with a world-class brand, we create pride for our nation. If we want to be practical, we can say that, with brands that succeed in the world, we create more jobs for our people, right here.

Then, we are able to take part in what's really important: "giving our people a big opportunity to raise their standards of living, giving them a real chance to improve their lives.”

We can do it. Our neighbors have done it. So can we. In the last 54 years, Korea worked hard to rebuild itself after a world war and a civil war destroyed it. From an agricultural economy in 1945, it shifted to light industry, consumer products, and heavy industry in the '80s. At the turn of the 21st) century, the Korean government focused on making Korea the world's leading IT nation. It did this by grabbing market share in key sectors like semiconductors, robotics, and biotechnology.

Today, one remarkable Korean brand has made it to the list of Top 100 Global Brands: Samsung. Less then a decade ago, Samsung meant nothing to consumers. By focusing on quality, design, and innovation, Samsung improved its products and its image. Today, it has surpassed the Japanese brand Sony. Now another Korean brand, LG Collins, is following in the footsteps of Samsung. It has also broken into the Top 100 Global Brands list.

What about China? Who would have thought that only 30 years after opening itself up to a market economy, China would become the world's fourth largest economy? Goods made in China are still thought of as cheap. Yet many brands around the world outsource their manufacturing to this country. China's own brands like Lenovo, Haier, Chery QQ, and Huawei are fast gaining ground as well. I have no doubt they will be the next big electronics, technology and car brands in the world.

Lee Kwan Yu’s book “From Third World to First" captures Singapore's aspiration to join the First World. According to the book, Singapore was a trading post that the British developed as a nodal point in its maritime empire. The racial riots there made its officials determined to build a "multiracial society that would give equality to all citizens, regardless of race, language or religion."

When Singapore was asked to leave the Malaysian Federation of States in 1965, Lee Kwan Yew developed strategies that he executed with single-mindedness despite their being unpopular. He and his cabinet started to build a nation by establishing the basics: building infrastructure, establishing an army, weeding out corruption, providing mass housing, building a financial center. Forty short years after, Singapore has been transformed into the richest South East Asian country today, with a per capita income of US$32,000.

These days, Singapore is transforming itself once more. This time it wants to be the creative hub in Asia, maybe even the world. More and more, it is attracting the best minds from all over the world in filmmaking, biotechnology, media, and finance. Meantime, Singaporeans have also created world-class brands: Banyan Tree in the hospitality industry, Singapore Airlines in the Airline industry and Singapore Telecoms in the telecom industry.

I often wonder: Why can't the Philippines, or a Filipino, do this?

Fifty years after independence, we have yet to create a truly global brand.

We cannot say the Philippines is too small because it has 86 million people. Switzerland, with 9 million people, created Nestle.

Sweden, also with 9 million people, created Ericsson. Finland, even smaller with five million people, created Nokia. All three are major global brands, among others.

Yes, our country is well-known for its labor, as we continue to export people around the world. And after India, we are grabbing a bigger chunk of the pie in the call-center and business-process-outsourcing industries. But by and large, the Philippines has no big industrial base, and Filipinos do not create world-class products.

We should not be afraid to try even if we are laughed at. Japan, laughed at for its cars, produced Toyota. Korea, for its electronics, produced Samsung. Meanwhile, the Philippines' biggest companies 50 years ago majority of which are multinational corporations such as Coca-Cola, Procter and Gamble, and Unilever Philippines, for example are still the biggest companies today. There are very few big, local challengers.

But already, hats off to Filipino entrepreneurs making strides to globalize their brands.

Goldilocks has had much success in the Unites States and Canada, where half of its customers are non-Filipinos. Coffee-chain Figaro may be a small player in the coffee world today, but it is making the leap to the big time. Two Filipinas, Bea Valdez and Tina Ocampo, are now selling their Philippine-made jewelry and bags all over the world. Their labels are now at Barney's and Bergdorf's in the U.S. and in many other high-end shops in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

When we started our own foray outside the Philippines 30 years ago, it wasn't a walk in the park. We set up a small factory in Hong Kong to manufacture Jack and Jill potato chips there. Today, we are all over Asia. We have the number-one-potato-chips brand in Malaysia and Singapore. We are the leading biscuit manufacturer in Thailand, and a significant player in the candy market in Indonesia. Our Aces cereal brand is a market leader in many parts of China. C2 is now doing very well in Vietnam, selling over 3 million bottles a month there, after only 6 months in the market. Soon, we will launch C2 in other South East Asian markets.

I am 81 today. But I do not forget the little boy that I was in the palengke in Cebu. I still believe in family. I still want to make good. I still don't mind going up against those older and better than me. I still believe hard work will not fail me. And I still believe in people willing to think the same way.

Through the years, the market place has expanded: between cities, between countries, between continents. I want to urge you all here to think bigger. Why serve 86 million when you can sell to four billion Asians? And that's just to start you off. Because there is still the world beyond Asia. When you go back to your offices, think of ways to sell and market your products and services to the world. Create world-class brands.

You can if you really tried. I did. As a boy, I sold peanuts from my backyard. Today, I sell snacks to the world.

I want to see other Filipinos do the same.

Thank you and good evening once again.

One of my favorite songs of all time =)

Moonlight

Performed by Sting and The Police;Written by john williams, alan bergman and marilyn bergman In the moonlight When the shadows play When the thought of what could happen Takes your breath away Sighs and whispers Quiet laughter in the air Unspoken invitations everywhere In the moonlight All the words you say Make it relatively easy To be swept away In the half-light Can we trust the way we feel Can we be sure that anything is real? Stars keep secrets as they wander indiscretely While the echoes of a song go drifting by We must be careful not to lose our way completely Or the magic that we seek here We can’t be sure will be here In the morning With the moon away And if in each other’s arms Is where we’re meant to stay In the love light When our eyes have grown accustomed to the daylight We’ll see what waits for us to share For all the things we’ve dreamed of in the moonlight Will be there

Tonight I can write the saddest lines (Pablo Neruda)

Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche. Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche. Escribir, por ejemplo : 'La noche está estrellada, y tiritan, azules, los astros, a lo lejos'. El viento de la noche gira en el cielo y canta. Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche. Yo la quise, y a veces ella también me quiso. En las noches como ésta la tuve entre mis brazos. La besé tantas veces bajo el cielo infinito. Ella me quiso, a veces yo también la quería. Cómo no haber amado sus grandes ojos fijos. Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche. Pensar que no la tengo. Sentir que la he perdido. Oir la noche immensa, más inmensa sin ella. Y el verso cae al alma como al pasto el rocío. Qué importa que mi amor no pudiera guardarla. La noche está estrellada y ella no está conmigo. Eso es todo. A lo lejos alguien canta. A lo lejos. Mi alma no se contenta con haberla perdido. Como para acercarla mi mirada la busca. Mi corazón la busca, y ella no está conmigo. La misma noche que hace blanquear los mismos arboles. Nosotros, los de entonces, ya no somos los mismos. Ya no la quiero, es cierto pero cuánto la quise. Mi voz buscaba el viento para tocar su oído. De otro. Será de otro. Como antes de mis besos. Su voz, su cuerpo claro. Sus ojos infinitos. Ya no la quiero, es cierto, pero tal vez la quiero. Es tan corto al amor, y es tan largo el olvido. Porque en noches como ésta la tuve entre mis brazos, mi alma no se contenta con haberla perdido. Aunque ésta sea el último dolor que ella me causa, y éstos sean los últimos versos que yo le escribo.   Tonight I can write the saddest lines

Tonight I can write the saddest lines. Write, for example,'The night is shattered and the blue stars shiver in the distance.' The night wind revolves in the sky and sings. Tonight I can write the saddest lines. I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too. Through nights like this one I held her in my arms I kissed her again and again under the endless sky. She loved me sometimes, and I loved her too. How could one not have loved her great still eyes. Tonight I can write the saddest lines. To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her. To hear the immense night, still more immense without her. And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture. What does it matter that my love could not keep her. The night is shattered and she is not with me. This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance. My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her. My sight searches for her as though to go to her. My heart looks for her, and she is not with me. The same night whitening the same trees. We, of that time, are no longer the same. I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her. My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing. Another's. She will be another's. Like my kisses before. Her voide. Her bright body. Her inifinite eyes. I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her. Love is so short, forgetting is so long. Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms my sould is not satisfied that it has lost her. Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer and these the last verses that I write for her. Pablo Neruda

Former Indonesian president Suharto died over the weekend. I was going to post a Reuters article, but it wouldn't publish. Oh well. My blog is beginning to resemble an obituary anyway. On that particular incident (Suharto dying), I decline to comment. I'm horrifically allergic to politics. Well, save for the current US presidential race. I have to say, the scene's pretty interesting. Without even considering the Democrat v. Republican angle, choosing from among Obama, Clinton, Edwards has got to be tough. I wonder when choosing the next president in this country is going to require choosing from among such a sparkling platter.

On a different note, Daimler is developing a car whose back seats may be adjusted such that people can face each other. Added plus: a sushi bar. It's still in its test phase though. I'm not sure if their big bosses have given the final nod yet.

Lately, I've been so fixated on all the crime and forensics shows on the crime suspense channel. It's all so blood and gore and detective work and intrigue. I love it. Hehe!

On a closer-to-home note, yay, suweldo is just around the corner!!! Nwy, if I actually had the luxury of buying all the books I want, these are some of the ones I'm interested in at the moment. Oh by the way, my birthday's coming up, so just in case you don't know what to get me, pick away. Hehe! These are all available at A Different Bookstore. Incidentally, all 2007 inventory there is on sale til the end of February. And lucky me, I get a 25% discout. Woopeedoo. So if you intend to get me one of these for my birthday, let me know, I'll lend you my discount card. =p

Check out adifferentbookstore.com for details. =)

Another one bites the dust. And other stuff.

Former Indonesian president Suharto died over the weekend. I was going to post a Reuters article, but it wouldn't publish. Oh well. My blog is beginning to resemble an obituary anyway. On that particular incident (Suharto dying), I decline to comment. I'm horrifically allergic to politics. Well, save for the current US presidential race. I have to say, the scene's pretty interesting. Without even considering the Democrat v. Republican angle, choosing from among Obama, Clinton, Edwards has got to be tough. I wonder when choosing the next president in this country is going to require choosing from among such a sparkling platter.

On a different note, Daimler is developing a car whose back seats may be adjusted such that people can face each other. Added plus: a sushi bar. It's still in its test phase though. I'm not sure if their big bosses have given the final nod yet.

Lately, I've been so fixated on all the crime and forensics shows on the crime suspense channel. It's all so blood and gore and detective work and intrigue. I love it. Hehe!

On a closer-to-home note, yay, suweldo is just around the corner!!! Nwy, if I actually had the luxury of buying all the books I want, these are some of the ones I'm interested in at the moment. (Darn. Why won't anything publish?!!) Oh by the way, my birthday's coming up, so just in case you don't know what to get me, pick away. Hehe! These are all available at A Different Bookstore. Incidentally, all 2007 inventory there is on sale til the end of February. And lucky me, I get a 25% discout. Woopeedoo. So if you intend to get me one of these for my birthday, let me know, I'll lend you my discount card. =p

Check out adifferentbookstore.com for details. =)

On Jonathan Brandis

Actor Brandis Committed Suicide

Coroner's Office Reports The 27-Year-Old Hung Himself

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25, 2003

Teen idol Jonathan Brandis died November 12. (BOP Magazine)

(CBS/AP) The death of 27-year-old actor Jonathan Brandis, who starred in two seasons of Steven Spielberg's "SeaQuest DSV," was a suicide, the county coroner's office said Monday.

Brandis, who died Nov. 12, hung himself, the coroner said.

Police said a friend of Brandis called 911 from the actor's apartment just before midnight on Nov. 11 to report Brandis had attempted suicide. Paramedics transported Brandis to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, but he died the next day, police Detective Gene Parshall said.

Brandis started his career in commercials and on television, landing a recurring role on the soap "One Life to Live" at age 6. He also made guest appearances on "L.A. Law," "Who's the Boss?" and "Murder, She Wrote."

His film credits included the starring role in 1991's "The Neverending Story 2: The Next Chapter," the Rodney Dangerfield comedy "Ladybugs," the martial arts comedy "Sidekicks" with Chuck Norris and a small part in the 2002 film "Hart's War," starring Bruce Willis.

Brandis also starred as crew member Lucas Wolenczek in the underwater sci-fi series "SeaQuest DSV," a role that garnered him a Young Artists Award in 1993 and helped turn him into a teen idol. At one point, he was getting 4,000 fan letters a week -- and he was voted "Number-One Dreamboat" by "Tiger Beat" magazine.

Other film work included Ang Lee's 1999 "Ride with the Devil," and the coming-of-age comedy "Outside Providence," the same year.

©MMIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Actor Heath Ledger dies at 28

Shit. First Jonathan Brandis. Then Brad Renfro. Then Heath Ledger. Leche. Bakit hindi na lang mga pangit ang mamatay. It's so sad...

-------------------

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment, the New York Police Department said.

Heath Ledger was unresponsive when a housekeeper found him in a Manhattan apartment Tuesday.

The Academy Award-nominated actor was 28.

Ledger was found naked and unresponsive, facedown on the floor at the foot of his bed by a housekeeper trying to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse, said police spokesman Paul Browne.

"Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed," he told CNN.

"This is being looked at as a possible overdose, but that is not confirmed yet."

Browne later told reporters some prescription medications were found in the room, including sleeping pills.

But he stressed police have made no determination of the cause of Ledger's death -- that would be done by the medical examiner.

He said the pills were not "scattered about."

No note was found and there was no indication of foul play, Browne said. Ledger was found at about 3 p.m., and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel about 3:30 p.m.

A crowd of onlookers, photographers and reporters gathered outside the apartment building after news of Ledger's death was reported. Police officers were guarding the doors.

Browne said he did not know how long Ledger had been renting the apartment, which he said took up the entire fourth floor.

An autopsy would be conducted on Wednesday, said Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the New York City medical examiner's office.

Ledger's family called his death "very tragic, untimely and accidental."

"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him," his father said.

"He was a down-to-earth, generous, kindhearted, life-loving, unselfish individual extremely inspirational to many."

Hollywood reacts

Condolences began pouring in from Ledger's friends and co-stars.

"I had such great hope for him," said Mel Gibson, who played Ledger's father in "The Patriot," in a statement.

"He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

Actress Nicole Kidman, a fellow Australian and close friend of Ledger's, said in a statement, "What a tragedy. My heart goes out to his family."

At the time of his death, Ledger had just finished playing the villain The Joker in "The Dark Knight," the latest installment in the Batman series. The film is to open in July.

Ledger was born in Perth, Australia, and named Heathcliff Andrew after the main characters of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights." He began acting at a local theater as a child.

Ledger's first American film was the teen comedy "10 Things I Hate About You" in 1999, and he immediately attracted attention from Hollywood. He passed up several scripts before taking a role in the Revolutionary War drama "The Patriot" in 2000 and "A Knight's Tale" in 2001. He also played a supporting role in "Monster's Ball," among other films.

"In a way I was spoon-fed a career," he told the Glasgow Herald in 2005. "It was fully manufactured by a studio that believed it could put me on their posters and turn me into a product. ... I hadn't figured out properly how to act, and all of a sudden I was being thrown into these lead roles."

Controversial role

But Ledger was perhaps best known for his 2005 portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain," about two cowboys who had a secret romantic relationship. The role earned him an Oscar nomination.

"I felt that choices were being made for me, so I feel this has been my time now to find the good stories and test myself," Ledger told the Glasgow Herald in the 2005 interview. "It has been an interesting year, where I finally have a sense of accomplishment."

Asked how he felt about filming love scenes with another man, Ledger said he and his co-star Jake Gyllenhaal simply focused on their roles.

"We can't say that we weren't nervous about it," Ledger told Oprah Winfrey in 2006. "But once the first take was over, it's like, 'OK. So what? It's kissing another human being. How are we going to finish this scene? Let's get on with it and let's get out of here.' "

In a written statement, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said it mourns Ledger's death, adding that his portrayal of Del Mar "changed hearts and minds in immeasurable ways."

Ledger has a daughter, Matilda Rose, born in 2005 to his then-girlfriend, Michelle Williams, who played his on-screen wife, Alma, in "Brokeback Mountain." The couple have since separated.

"He was just so respected in the industry," said Kim Serafin, senior editor of In Touch Weekly.

"It's just horribly tragic. He was just a fine actor and a good person, so this is horribly sad and very unexpected."

CNN's Deb Feyerick, Susan Chun, Miguel Susana and Eden Pontz contributed to this story.

Nostalgia stimuli

While we were at today's MCLE session, Rowena, Gail, Mondy and I compiled a list of fun / funny / hilarious past trends. Feel free to add on:

• hoodie shirts
• army boots
• sundress + white shirt + army boots
• mickey mouse watches
• chunky heels
• mini backpacks
• flared pants
• orange & green
• Mobiline
• Extelcom
• Alanis Morisette
• Backstreet Boys
• Donna Lewis
• Color Me Badd
• All 4 One
• Damage
• red sleeveless turtlenecks
• Counting Crows
• Hootie and the Blowfish
• Blur
• Oasis
• Robee name stickers
• Korean / Japanese and/or floral and/or scented stationery sets
• Bensia pens
• Sanrio
• That's Entertainment
• Ang TV
• Sheryl-Romnick
• TGIS
• Angelu-Bobby
• Jolina-Marvin
• Beverly Hills 90210
• Jason Priestley
• Luke Perry
• Shannen Doherty
• Jennie Garth
• Ian Ziering
• Brian Austin Green
• Tori Spelling
• The Smurfs
• Voltes V
• Daimos
• My Little Pony
• Tintin
• Gem and the Holograms
• Sticker books
• Batibot
• Sesame Street (before Elmo became THE puppet)
• Tropang Trumpo
• Mighty Kid
• American Gladiator
• Tretorn
• Giordano Classics
• Giordano
• pagers
• shoulder pads
• spraynet bangs
• Rainbow Brite
• platform shoes
• Transformers
• GI Joe
• She-ra
• He-man
• Ewoks
• Alf
• The Dummy
• My Mom's a Werewolf
• David Duchovny
• Jonathan Brandis (RIP)
• Brad Renfro (RIP)
• Armageddon
• analog celphones
• 5110-3210-6110-6150-7210-5110i-3330
• tex (how is it spelled anyway?)
• pog
• jolen
• Tetris
• Game and Watch
• Speak and Spell
• Nintendo Family Computer
• Galaga
• Super Mario
• Donkey Kong
• Legend of Kage
• Circus Charlie
• Betamax
• VHS
• casette tapes
• Universal Motion Dancers
• Wowie de Guzman
• Bojo Molina
• radio dedications
• Pepsi 349 scam
• chunky cloth headbands
• Tamagochi
• sunflower hats
• LARGE Pop-Swatch
• Lisa Frank stationery and stickers
• Archie comics
• St. Michael's socks
• Jungle Juice
• Glico's
• Trapper Keeper
• Sweet Valley (Kids, Twins and Friends, The Unicorns, High, University)
• Anne Geddes pictures/postcards
• Sweet Dreams
• Mills and Boon
• trashy novels
• United Colors of Benetton
• Birks
• Tweety Bird and Sylvester
• Mars
• Club V / VBar / Embassy
• Ever After - Bonnie Bailey
• French twist / inverted ponygail using (see Gail's drawing)
• John en Marsha
• Buddy en Sol
• Perfect Strangers
• Ghostbusters
• Captain Planet
• Nenuco
• Angel's Breath
• Atari
• Nenuco Chips
• Melrose Place
• SST (Salo Salo Together)
• Dale Villar
• Chibugan Na
• Lunch Date
• Eye to Eye
• Sa / Sang Linggo nAPO Sila
• Valiente
• Annaluna
• Lady Lee
• Aiza Seguerra as a girl
• Little Miss Philippines
• Calendar Girls
• MTB
• Gino Padilla
• Chedie Guevarra
• Smokey Mountain
• Jeffrey Hidalgo
• Geneva Cruz
• Kuwarta o Kahon
• GMA Supershow
• Kuya Pepe
• Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata
• Palibhasa Lalaki
• Teysi ng Tahanan
• Rustom as a boy
• Rustom-Carmina
• Aga-Aiko
• May Minamahal
• trolls
• Gift Gate
• Popeye
• Blue Magic
• Papemelroti
• shawarma
• Chuckie Dreyfus
• East 17
• Shaider
• Bioman
• Masked Rider Black
• Sailor Moon
• Masked Man
• Ultraman
• Gimik
• G-mik
• Heart Evangelista
• Red Sternberg
• Raven Villanueva
• Michael Flores
• Gio, Guila and Luigi Alvarez
• Lindsay Custodio
• Sushmita Sen
• Dayanara Torres
• Michelle Van Eimeren
• Viveka Babajee
• the slinky
• the thing you slap onto your wrist into a bracelet of sorts
• Coney Island
• Tivoli icecream things
• Kisses
• that thing you get with Chickadees that you're supposed to dunk in water so it will grow
• Home Along Da Riles
• Coleman

2008 Holidays (RA 9492) Woopeedoo!!!

Republic of the Philippines Congress of the Philippines Metro Manila Thirteenth Congress Third Regular Session Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-fourth day of July, two thousand and six. ___o0o___ [ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9492 ] AN ACT RATIONALIZING THE CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL HOLIDAYS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7, BOOK I OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of Executive Order No. 292, as amended, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Sec. 26, Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days. – (1) Unless otherwise modified by law, and or proclamation, the following regular holidays and special days shall be observed in the country: Regular Holidays New year’s Day - January 1 Maundy Thursday - Movable date Good Friday - Movable date Eidul Fitr - Movable date Araw ng Kagitingan - Monday nearest April 9 (Bataaan and Corregidor Day) Labor Day - Monday nearest May 1 Independence Day - Monday nearest June 12 National Heroes Day - Last Monday of August Bonifacio Day - Monday nearest November 30 Christmas Day - December 25 Rizal Day - Monday nearest December 30 b) Nationwide Special Holidays: Ninoy Aquino Day - Monday nearest August 21 All Saints Day - November 1 Last Day of the Year - December 31 In the event the holiday falls on a Wednesday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday of the week. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday that follows: Provided, That for movable holidays, the President shall issue a proclamation, at least six months prior to the holiday concerned, the specific date that shall be declared as a nonworking day: Provided, however, The Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao." SEC. 2. All laws, orders, presidential issuances, rules and regulations or part thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. Approved, (Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR. (Sgd.) MANNY VILLAR Speaker of the House of Representatives President of the Senate This Act which originated in the Senate was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on January 30, 2007 and February 7, 2007, respectively. (Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO (Sgd.) OSCAR G. YABES Secretary General House of Representatives Secretary of the Senate Approved: July 25, 2007 (Sgd.)GLORIA MACAPAGAL – ARROYO President of the Philippines

Download RA No. 9492 .doc file AND AS INTERPRETED... (from forwarded UP-BAA 2002 egroup email c/o Rowena) Note to Self: Revise calendar.

YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING!!! The Official List of Philippine Holidays for 2008read up on Republic Act No. 9492!!!

LONG WEEKEND!!!! Tuesday, January 1 New Year's Day

LONG WEEKEND!!!! Monday, February 25 EDSA Revolution Anniversary
(baka hindi i-declare, GMA loves to piss off the Aquinos these days)

LONG LONG HOLY WEEKEND!!!!
March 20 Maundy Thursday
March 21 Good Friday
March 22 Black Saturday
March 23 Easter Sunday

LONG WEEKEND!!!! Monday, April 7 Araw ng Kagitingan
(in lieu of April 9)

LONG WEEKEND!!!! Monday, May 5 Labor Day
(in lieu of May 1)

LONG WEEKEND!!!! Monday, June 16 Independence Day
(in lieu of June 12)

LONG WEEKEND!!!! Monday, August 25 Ninoy Aquino Day
(in lieu of August 21 & concurrent with National Heroes Day)

October __ : Eid'l Fitr
(to be confirmed by the OMA: Office of Muslim Affairs)

November 1, All Saints Day
(shiyet, it falls on a Saturday!)

LONG WEEKEND!!!! Monday, December 1 Bonifacio Day
(in lieu of Nov. 30)

and the grandmomma of all long weekends,
a 12-day extravaganza of a
LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG WEEKEND:


Thursday, December 25 Christmas Day
(declared by GOD)

Friday, December 26
(do you really think Pinoys will go to work on this day?)

Saturday, December 27
Sunday, December 28

Monday, December 29 Rizal Day
(in lieu of December 30)

Tuesday, December 30
(see Friday, December 26 for reference)

Wednesday, December 31, Last Day of the Year Holiday
(declared by GMA)

Thursday, January 1, 2009 is still a holiday...

Friday, January 2
(seriously, no one intends to work on this day!)

Saturday, January 3
Sunday, January 4

SEE YOU ALL BACK AT WORK OR SCHOOL on
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2009!!!

What my name means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.
You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!
You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.
You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.
You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.
You are deeply philosophical and thoughtful. You tend to analyze every aspect of your life.
You are intuitive, brilliant, and quite introverted. You value your time alone.
Often times, you are grumpy with other people. You don't appreciate them trying to interfere in your affairs.


You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.
You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.


You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.
You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life.
You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip.
People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them.
You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.
You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.
At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.
You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.
You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.
You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.




You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.
You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous.
You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things.
Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/

Brad Renfro is dead =..(

Actor Brad Renfro found dead in Los Angeles home

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/15/renfro.obit.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Story Highlights

• The cause of death was not immediately known
  He starred opposite Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones in "The Client"
  His other credits include "Ghost World" and "The Jacket"

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Actor Brad Renfro, whose career began promisingly with a childhood role in "The Client" but rapidly faded as he struggled with drugs and alcohol, was found dead Tuesday in his home. He was 25.

Actor Brad Renfro served 10 days in jail in 2006 after pleading guilty to attempted possession of heroin.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at 9 a.m., said Craig Harvey, chief investigator for the Los Angeles County coroner's office. The cause of death was not immediately determined, Harvey said, but an autopsy could be conducted as early as Wednesday.

Renfro had reportedly been drinking with friends the evening before his death, Harvey said.

Renfro's lawyer, Richard Kaplan, said he did not know whether the death was connected to any problems with addiction.

"He was working hard on his sobriety," Kaplan said. "He was doing well. He was a nice person."

The actor served 10 days in jail in May 2006 after pleading no contest to driving while intoxicated and guilty to attempted possession of heroin.

The latter charge stemmed from his arrest in Los Angeles' Skid Row area, when he attempted to buy heroin from an undercover officer in 2005.

For several years he was better known for that drug bust and the resulting criminal case than for acting.

After one court appearance, he talked to reporters about drug rehabilitation, saying he was "tired of paying the consequences" for drinking and drug use and eager to get clean.

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Renfro's film career began when he was 12, acting opposite Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones in "The Client." His other credits include "Sleepers," "Deuces Wild," "Apt Pupil" and "The Jacket."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Bestiality and beyond: Goat abuse sparks outcry

http://perezhilton.com/?p=11541#more-11541

The case of a goat who was raped and killed has prompted a push for a bill that would outlaw bestiality in Florida.

After a goat was raped and killed in a Panhandle town, animal activists, police and citizens were almost as shocked to find out that bestiality isn't a crime in Florida.

But it might be soon.

A Sunrise state senator and a St. Petersburg representative have filed legislation to make it a first-degree felony to have sex with animals or promote or advertise bestiality.

”It's true. It's sick. There needs to be a law,” said Democratic Sen. Nan Rich, a longtime crusader for children and animal rights. “There are 30 states that make this a crime. Florida isn't one of them.”

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who called the situation ”unbelievable,” said Thursday he would sign the bill into law if it made it to his desk.

Rich said she was as shocked as she was disgusted when she learned of the rape and asphyxiation last year of a family pet goat named Meg — who was pregnant with twins — in the town of Mossy Head in rural Walton County.

A suspect in the case, a 48-year-old man, is serving an 11-month, 29-day jail sentence on animal-theft charges in connection with the attempted abduction of another goat in a separate case, according to Walton County Assistant State Attorney James Parker.

Parker said he couldn't prosecute the suspect in the death of Meg because DNA samples taken with a sheriff's office rape kit were inconclusive.

Parker said he asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement last week to retest the evidence.

But even if there's a DNA match, Parker said the suspect could only be charged with misdemeanor trespassing and animal cruelty, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Parker said the suspect could not be arrested for bestiality because it isn't a crime. The prosecutor added that the man is ”definitely a suspect” because he was arrested trying to take another person's goat Feb. 3 shortly after Meg was choked to death from her collar that had been tightly held around her neck.

Parker said it was the suspect's second livestock-theft charge. Dee Thompson-Poirrier, of Okaloosa County Animal Services, said Meg the goat was once featured at a 4-H Club, and had been given to a family with small children by a neighbor who had suspected an area man — she wouldn't say who — of abusing the animal.

Thompson-Poirrier said she was called in to handle the case because Walton County locals believed it would best be handled by someone outside the county. She said Meg's owner heard a suspicious noise the night of the incident and only later learned that someone had set her dogs free and had left dog biscuits near the fence to lure the animals away from Meg.

While the rape and killing were shocking, Thompson-Poirrier said so was the fact that bestiality isn't even a crime here. ”I found out far more about goats and bestiality than I ever wanted,” she said.

Rich said the prohibition against bestiality is important because studies show that those who abuse animals may also abuse children. She expects the legislation that she's sponsoring with Democratic Rep. Frank Peterman to pass during the spring lawmaking session, though they might reduce the first-degree felony charge calling for a maximum 30-year prison sentence for committing, promoting, abetting or possessing pornography of bestiality.

Otherwise, the bill is too little, too late.

”The fact that this happens is unconscionable,” Rich said. “And it should be illegal.”

Thompson-Poirrier says her PAWS society spent about $5,000 investigating the case and having the suspect's DNA analyzed.

The odd local publicity helped bring back about $300, when a man from nearby Crestview made a series of $10 goat T-shirts for sale.

One shirt depicts a goat saying “Baaa Means No!”

'Twas the night before Christmas (As you've never read it before)

I'm still psyching myself up for the day. Bear with me.

Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas,
there did occur at a


certain parcel of improved real property (hereinafter
"the House"), a


general lack of stirring by all creatures therein,
including, but not


limited to, a mouse.


A variety of foot apparel, e.g., stockings, socks,
etc., had been affixed


by and around the chimney in said House in the hope
and/or belief that St.


Nick, a.k.a. St. Nicholas, a.k.a. Santa Claus
(hereinafter "Claus") would


arrive at some time thereafter.


The minor residents, i.e., the children, of the
aforementioned House were


located in their individual beds and were engaged in
nocturnal


hallucinations, i.e., dreams, wherein visions of
confectionery treats,


including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or
sugar plums, did


dance, cavort and otherwise appear in said dreams.


Whereupon, the party of the first part (sometimes
hereinafter referred to


as "I"), being the joint owner in fee simple
of the House with the party


of the second part (hereinafter "Mamma"),
and said Mamma had retired for a


sustained period of sleep; (At such time, the parties
were clad in various


forms of headgear, e.g., kerchief and cap.)


Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there
did occur upon the


unimproved real property adjacent and appurtenant to
said House, i.e., the


lawn, a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause
and/or circumstance.


The party of the first part did immediately rush to a
window in the House


to investigate the cause of such disturbance. At that
time, the party of


the first part did observe, with some degree of
wonderment and/or


disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter "the
Vehicle") being pulled


and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by
approximately eight (8)


reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and
in fact was, the


previously referenced Claus.


Said Claus was providing specific direction,
instruction, and guidance to


the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically
identified the


animal co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer,
Prancer, Vixen, Comet,


Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen (hereinafter, both
individually and


collectively, "the Deer"). (Upon information
and belief, it is further


asserted that an additional co-conspirator named
"Rudolph" may have been


involved.)


The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the
Vehicle and the Deer


intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of
several residences


located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House,
and noted that the


Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys, and
other items of unknown


origin or nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation
or permission,


either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the
House, and Claus


entered said House via the chimney.


Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was
partially covered with


residue from the chimney, and he carried a large sack
containing a portion


of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other
unknown items. He was


smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in
blatant violation


of local ordinances and health regulations.


Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the
stockings of the


minor children, which hung adjacent to the chimney,
with toys and other


small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute
"gifts" to said


minors pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
U.S. Tax Code.)


Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side
of his nose and flew,


rose and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to
the roof where the


Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as
"lookouts." Claus immediately


departed for an unknown destination.


However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer,
and Claus from said


House, the party of the first part did hear Claus
state and/or exclaim:


"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good
night!" or words to that effect.


P.S.


Most if not some lawyers are paid per word or per page in
every pleading they accomplish for their clients. The use of Latin and
highfalutin words tend to raise their rate. Cheers!!!

--> Actually, as far as I know, many charge by the tenth of an hour spent working on it.