DOTA: AMUSEMENT OR ADDICTION?

Defense Of The Ancients or more commonly known as DOTA is a map of the game Warcraft III: Frozen Throne. It has gained international fame among young people. But is it more than just a map? Is it more than just a game for weekends? Or is it something more?

Ah, Dota. What a soothing sound to my young ears. Whenever I hear this word, the first thing that comes to my mind is to kill more and more heroes as many times as I can and not to get killed in the process.

As I realized what I was thinking, I immediately realized that my attention was focused on killing and defending, which is not the real me. I stopped to think for a moment. If I was entranced in the killing part of the game, how much more the other youth around the world! The game may be fun, but it may also have effects on our attitude and the way we handle with our problems

In the Philippines, I usually go out with my friends to the Internet cafe, and I notice that almost every computer user was playing the same game, Dota. Here’s one effect that comes along: Addiction.

Addiction is described in the Wikipedia as an obsession, compulsion, or excessive physical dependence or psychological dependence, such as: drug addiction, video game addiction, crime, alcoholism, compulsive overeating, problem gambling, computer addiction, pornography addiction, etc. I guess we can add another example of addiction: DOTA Addiction

I go around and think, “Nah. Dota won’t have any effects on my attitude or the attitude of any person, it’s just a game, isn’t it?” I was corrected by my own words, as all around me, I saw EVERYONE who was playing Dota was screaming and insulting and blaming others for not assisting them kill the hero and blah, blah, blah, blah. Again, I realized that there’s more to Dota than just a fun, thrilling game. And I have seen through my own eyes, how this game has brought change to the youth today. And I certainly won’t want to see myself shouting like a monkey without a cause inside the Internet cafe.

Now, I’m not saying that this game should be banned from our computers. All I’m saying is that we should try to moderate and control our time in playing because who knows if one day in the future you will also be acting the same way as the “DOTA Addicts” or the “Screamers” do.

Dolphy cuts 'Father Jejemon' amid Catholic protest

MANILA, Philippines - Angry Catholics forced the Philippines' "King of Comedy" to delete scenes of his latest film deemed deeply offensive to the country's dominant religion, the veteran actor said.

Dolphy said he did not wish to pick a fight with God as his production outfit voluntarily excised the offending scenes of his "Father Jejemon" movie before it was screened by government censors.

Critics, including senior Philippine church leaders, said the slapstick movie originally showed a priest accidentally dropping the host between a woman's breasts as she received communion during mass.

Another scene showed the host getting snagged in the false teeth of a communicant, they said.

The 82 year-old comedy king, whose real name is Rodolfo Quizon, said that while shooting the film, a priest was present to look over the script.

"Mayroon kaming adviser na pari doon. Mayroon kaming pari na pumupunta doon. Tinatanong namin kung okay ang nasa script. Sabi niya okay naman," he said.

"Sagradong Katoliko ako para awayin ko ang Panginong Diyos. Nahihiya ako sa nangyari, pagpasensiyahan na ninyo ako kako. I was just meant to do good pero kung masama, ayaw nila, aalisin ko," Dolphy, who plays the title role in the film, said.

Even he was hurt, Dolphy said the show must go on.

According to Dolphy's partner, singer Zsa Zsa Padilla, they are willing to spend money to re-edit the film.

The version approved by censors is set to be screened at Manila cinemas during the annual Metro Manila Film Festival.

Retired bishop Angel Lagdameo, a former head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, has urged the 80% of the Philippine population who are Catholics to speak up against the film.

"They are negative," he said of the offending scenes in comments published on the Catholic bishops' website, at cbcponline.net.

"The movie does not give a good reflection on the priesthood," Lagdameo added.

The controversial film has also become the subject of an SMS viral campaign believed launched by Catholic adherents.

"Let's not allow the 'King of Comedy' to make a comedy of the 'King of Kings,'" read one text message.

Dolphy has starred in more than 200 Philippine movies in a long film career that began in 1953.

Dolphy lauded

Grace Poe-Llamanzares, chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), meantime, praised Dolphy for his immediate action.

"RVQ Productions upon learning of the public's sentiments against some scenes on the teasers, immediately exercised self regulation, and deleted voluntarily the evoking scenes,” she said, adding:

“This maybe a good example where the MTRCB and a film production company have found a good accord, where the true benefactors are the viewing public

Why You Are Addicted to Cigarettes

Cigarette smoking is just about the most disgusting habit there is. Yet surprisingly people who do smoke can not quit. If you smoke do you know why you are addicted to cigarettes? In this article we will look at the transformation of a social smoker into a full time cigarette addict.

At first you become addicted to cigarettes because of the fast action of nicotine on the pleasure centers of your brain. When you puff on a cigarette the nicotine in your lungs enters your blood stream and within 15 to 20 seconds begins to work on your brain.

Once in your brain nicotine binds to receptors that are intended for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters affect your mood and behavior.

The neurotransmitter dopamine affects the reward center that causes feelings of pleasure and enjoyment. Serotonin helps moderate your mood and controls your appetite. GABA produces a calming effect that reduces anxiety.

Smoking is a means of artificially spiking the acetylcholine system resulting in feelings of pleasure, calmness, and a moderation of your mood.

As an occasional you may begin to use cigarettes as a means of coping with life's daily stresses. You switch from social smoking to daily smoking. Once you begin smoking several cigarettes a day, nicotine is constantly stimulating your brain, 24 hours a day. You are psychologically addicted to the positive effects of nicotine.

Your brain adapts to the frequent presence of nicotine. Your brain physically changes by increasing the nicotine receptor concentration. This requires more nicotine for your brain to function properly. That is, your brain now becomes dependent on nicotine for normal functions. This adaptation produces tolerance for nicotine.

When your brain is unable to get the required amount of nicotine, you experience withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms include restlessness and irritability. You may have trouble sleeping or in getting along with family and friends. You often appear anxious one day and listless the next.

As an addicted cigarette smoker you often go for your first dose of nicotine as soon as possible in the morning. Many smokers take their first puffs within 5 minutes of awakening.


Throughout the day you need nicotine doses every couple of hours. You will use your one break at work to smoke. You will go outside and stand in the snow to smoke. You may get up in the night to have a puff when you go to the bathroom.



You are now a cigarette addict and destined for a life of health problems not to mention the outlandish cost of a carton of cigarettes. If you are already a cigarette addict you face a tough road ahead to quitting. If you are a social smoker quit while you still can.

World's Most Expensive Cars

What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you have the money and the opportunity, you will definitely spend a small fraction of it to place a few of these supercars in your garage. Here are the 10 most expensive production cars on the market.

1. Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.6 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, the title for the fastest car goes to the SSC Ultimate Aero which exceed 253 mph pushing this car to 2nd place for the fastest car.

2. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the second on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

3. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable  top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even as of today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and it outperformed many other supercars.

4. Ferrari Enzo $670,000. The most known supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.

5. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 5th fastest car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

6. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400. Don't let the price tag fool you, the 6th most expensive car is actually the fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost nearly half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to top the most expensive car in a speed race. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

7. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000. The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is also rank 3rd for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.

8. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568. Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently, it is the 4th fastest car in the world with a top speed of 245 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg is not giving up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car. Good luck with that!

9. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster $495,000. A GT supercar, the SLR McLaren is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world with a top speed of 206 mph+ and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. It is a luxurious convertible with a really powerful engine, which results in outstanding performances and style.

10. Porsche Carrera GT $440,000. A supercar with dynamic stability control and a top speed of 205 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. The Porsche Carrera GT applies the absolute calibers of a true racing car to offer an unprecedented driving feeling on the road.

How To Ask A Girl Out On Date

You met her, you talked to her, you got her number and, so far, everything is going great. But now comes that awkward point, …

How To Ask A Girl Out For Date

If it is a girl you are really interested in your mind might be filled with doubts and insecurities :
What if she says no ?
Am I trying to move too fast ?
Maybe she thought we were just friends and she will be offended if I ask.
All of these fears, although natural and common, are dumb. If you want a date with this girl you have the right to ask her out. Don't allow your life to be ruled by doubt and insecurity.

So what are the best ways to ask a girl out ?

There are several cheesy techniques you can use to lower your chances of rejection (such as making a bet with a girl and the loser has to make them dinner) but these kinds of games are unnecessary. If you are straightforward, and don't beat around the bush about what you want, a girl will respect and admire your confidence.
Optimally, you would ask her in a face-to-face setting. However, if that is not possible, either because the opportunity won't present itself or because you aren't confident enough, your best alternative would be over the phone.
Avoid, at all costs, asking through email or any other written medium (Instant Messenger, a note, etc.). Not only do these methods scream "CHICKEN!" they also leave behind a paper trail that may or may not come back to haunt you.
One way to avoid looking like an idiot is to have something in mind to say for these three possible reactions to your question so you won't be caught off guard :
If she says "yes"
Have a plan in mind; know your schedule and have an idea to suggest.
If she says "no"
Don't act shocked or offended. Just be like, "Alright." Then carry on the conversation as if you never asked. Be friendly and polite. Too often guys take a "no" personally and get ticked off. Girls don't admire or respect a negative reaction. The fact that you were able to brush off her rejection so easily may actually raise her interest.
If she says "some other time"
Have a plan B in case she is busy. If she still acts like she has too much to do it's probably because she's not interested and doesn't want to hurt your feelings. Accept it as a rejection and move on.
Of course, you go into it expecting her to say "yes" but it's, as with most things in life, it's important to be prepared for the worst.

Tips on how to ask a girl out

The real key to getting women to say "yes" when you ask for the date IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO YOU.
If a woman is attracted to you then why wouldn't she want to go out on a date with you ? It makes sense but most guys don't think of it that way... they miss the point and focus on "how to ask" rather than focusing on raising her attraction.

Why is the Sky Blue?

It is easy to see that the sky is blue. Have you ever wondered why? A lot of other smart people have, too. And it took a long time to figure it out! The light from the Sun looks white. But it is really made up of all the colors of the rainbow. A prism is a specially shaped crystal. When white light shines through a prism, the light is separated into all its colors. If you visited The Land of the Magic Windows, you learned that the light you see is just one tiny bit of all the kinds of light energy beaming around the Universe--and around you! Like energy passing through the ocean, light energy travels in waves, too. Some light travels in short, "choppy" waves. Other light travels in long, lazy waves.blue  light waves are shorter than red light waves. All light travels in a straight line unless something gets in the way to-- reflect it (like a mirror) bend it (like a prism) or scatter it (like molecules of the gases in the atmosphere) Sunlight reaches Earth's atmosphere and is scattered in all directions by all the gases and particles in the air. Blue light is scattered in all directions by the tiny molecules of air in Earth's atmosphere. Blue is scattered more than other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves. This is why we see a blue sky most of the time. Closer to the horizon, the sky fades to a lighter blue or white. The sunlight reaching us from low in the sky has passed through even more air than the sunlight reaching us from overhead. As the sunlight has passed through all this air, the air molecules have scattered and rescattered the blue light many times in many directions. Also, the surface of Earth has reflected and scattered the light. All this scattering mixes the colors together again so we see more white and less blue. What Makes a Red Sunset? As the Sun gets lower in the sky, its light is passing through more of the atmosphere to reach you. Even more of the blue light is scattered, allowing the reds and yellows to pass straight through to your eyes.
Sometimes the whole western sky seems to glow. The sky appears red because larger particles of dust, pollution, and water vapor in the atmosphere reflect and scatter more of the reds and yellows.
Why Does Scattering Matter? How much of the Sun's light gets bounced around in Earth's atmosphere and how much gets reflected back into space? How much light gets soaked up by land and water, asphalt freeways and sunburned surfers? How much light do water and clouds reflect back into space? And why do we care? Sunlight carries the energy that heats Earth and powers all life on Earth. Our climate is affected by how sunlight is scattered by forests, deserts, snow- and ice-covered surfaces, different types of clouds, smoke from forest fires, and other pollutants in the air.
MISR (for Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer) is one of five instruments onboard the Terra satellite. MISR has nine separate cameras that take pictures of Earth's atmosphere and surface from different angles as the Terra satellite passes over a region during its orbit.	MISR flies over a brush fire burning in Northern California.

STYLES OF PLAYING POKER

There are two main styles of play in poker: loose and tight.

A loose player will tend to play a lot of hands, usually paying to see the flop, and often play right to the River, even with a mediocre hand. Players at low-limit or Play Money tables tend to play very loose, and though it isn’t the most favorable way to play, they will often profit from sheer luck. A tight player can make a lot of money at the looser tables, but if the tables are too loose they can lose money simply by losing to bad players with the odd lucky hand. In order to do better at the looser tables, play more suited cards and more small pairs, but if your hand doesn’t improve make sure you’re ready to fold.

Tighter players take more advantage of starting hand selection to increase their chances of drawing a winner, which is why tighter players tend to play much fewer starting hands. Tight tables are usually less profitable because fewer players will pay to see the flop, particularly on high-limit and no-limit tables where the players are especially tight and logical.

On top of these styles, a player can be called passive or aggressive, depending on their betting style. Passive players are usually quite predictable: they don’t raise often, usually preferring to check or call, but when they do raise they’ve usually got a good hand. Aggressive players, on the other hand, are much more unpredictable: they tend to raise frequently, making it harder to tell what they’re up to.

The way a player plays off the starting hand, combined with their betting styles, create the four common categories of players: loose-passive (“calling stations”), loose-aggressive (“maniacs”), tight-passive (“rocks”) and tight-aggressive (the ideal type of player).