Sunday, March 1, 2015

Famous Celebrities in Same Sex Relationship in Modern History

Famous Celebrities in Same Sex Relationship in Modern History

Hadrian and Antoninus, Achilles and Patroclus, Alexander the Great and Hephaestion were among the most controversial same sex relationships in history. Today, such relationship is slowly accepted by people. As a matter of fact, same sex marriage is already practice in some European and North American countries.

1. Elton John – one of the most famous and most successful British singers in history. He is in a same sex relationship with David Furnish, a former advertising executive and now filmmaker. John and Furnish entered a civil partnership in 2005 and have two kids through a surrogate mother.

2. Ellen DeGeneres – is the host of the popular American TV show Helen. She is currently married to Portia de Rossi

3. Ann Heche - she had a same-sex relationship with Ellen DeGeneres for 3 years from 1997 to 2000.

4. Martina Navratilova – she is well-remembered as one of the woman to ever play tennis in the history of the sports. Years ago, she publicly admitted that she is a lesbian. She was involved with author Rita Mae Brown from 1984 to 1991. She had a long-term relationship with partner Judy Nelson.

5. George Michael – is one of the handsomest and most successful singers in history. At first, he tried to hide that he is gay but later took the courage to announce publicly that he is gay. Michael established a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a male Brazilian dress-designer, whom he had met in 1991. He also had a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss, a former flight attendant and cheerleader coach.

6. Samantha Fox – an English pop singer and actress is currently living with Myra Stratton, her manager.

7. Janis Ian - Ian met Patricia Snyder in 1989 and they got married in Toronto in 2003.

8. Charice Pempengco – a Filipino singer, is the latest celebrity superstar who publicly revealed to the world that she is lesbian. This singing sensation revealed that she had past relationships with other girls in the industry.

9. Aiza Seguerra – a very popular child star and a celebrated Filipino singer was in a same sex relationship for several years with a non-showbiz personality and the two decided recently to get married in the U.S.

10. Billie Jean King – an American tennis superstar who admitted publicly that she is a lesbian while still married to Larry King. She had an intimate relationship with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett and is currently living with his life partner Llana Kloss.


The World’s Most Remarkable and Celebrated Same Sex Relationships in History

The World’s Most Remarkable and Celebrated Same Sex Relationships in History

Several Ancient Greeks and Romans were involved in male same-sex love. All throughout history until today, there are many people including notable leaders, rich people and famous celebrities who are involved in same sex relationships. Dionysius is regarded by the Greeks as the patron god of hermaphrodites and transvestites. Aphrodite is considered patron of homosexual love between males.

Achilles and Patroclus 



Nisus and Euryalus 



Agamennon  and Argynnus 



Narcissus and Ameinias 



Hyacinth and Apollo 



Apollo and Hymenaios 



Daphnis and Pan 



Others include: 

Achilles and Troilus


Alexander the Great and Hephaestion 

The Most Interesting and Intriguing Facts About Mona Lisa

The Most Interesting and Intriguing Facts About Mona Lisa

One of the most popular paintings in the world is the “Mona Lisa” by the universal genius and Renaissance man – Leonardo de Vinci. After more than 500 years since its creation, the painting continuously captured and captivated the attention of millions of people most especially by art enthusiasts and lovers.  It was very popular and controversial for several reasons. Keep that mouse rolling to find the most intriguing and controversial facts about the classical “Mona Lisa”.

1. The Mona Lisa, which is one of the most expensive paintings in the world, is also known as La Gioconda or La Joconde

2. In some instances, it is also called the Portrait of Lisa Gherardini and has been acclaimed as the most sung about, the best known, the most written about, the most parodied and the most visited work of art in the world.

3. La Gioconda is the Italian for “the jocund one”. Jocund means jovial or happy.

4. Lisa Gherardini was the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a rich merchant who lived in the City of Florence in Italy. The city is one of the most famous cities in the world during the Renaissance period.

5. This extremely famous painting is a half-length portrait of a woman in oil on a poplar panel and was painted between 1503 and 1506.

6. It is currently on permanent display at the Musee du Louver in Paris, the capital of France which is the most visited country in the world.

7. It is a property of the French Republic and was purchased by King Francois I of France after Leonardo da Vinci’s death from his student and assistant Salai, who inherited the painting including his other works.

8. It was bought by King Francois I for 4,000 ecus and kept it at Palace of Fontainebleau and then it was given to Louis XIV and was kept at the Palace of Versailles.

9. The term “Mona Lisa” is taken from the Italian “Ma Donna Lisa” which means “My Lady Lisa”. Mona is the contraction of Madonna.

10. The painting is thought to have been commissioned for the new home of Francesco del Giocondo and Lisa and to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea. 




11. The “Mona Lisa” is an unfinished painting by Leonardo da Vinci like many of his work.

12. The painting also spent a short period of time in the bedroom of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Palace of Tuileries.

13. It was moved to the Louvre after the French Revolution and was move again at the Brest Arsenal during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.

14. After the Franco-Prussian War it was moved back to the Louvre but was move again to several places such Chateau d’Amboise, Loc-Dieu Abbey, Chateau de Chambord and Ingres Museum.

15. When the painting was stolen on August 21, 1911, the Louvre was closed for an entire week to aid in investigation of the theft.

16. The French poet Guillaume Appollinaire was arrested and jailed but was released due to lack of evidence to prove his guilt. His fiend, the famous painter – Pablo Picasso, was also brought in for questioning but was also freed.

17. It took 2 years to finally capture the real thief – Vincenzo Peruggia, an employee of Louvre. He was captured when he tried to sell it to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.

18. This Italian patriot’s main reason for stealing the painting is that he believed Leonardo's painting should be returned to Italy for display in an Italian museum.

19. The Mona Lisa painting was exhibited all over Italy and returned to Louvre in 1913. Peruggia was hailed for his patriotism and served only 6 months in jail for stealing the painting.

20. Mona Lisa was among the first portraits to depict the sitter before an imaginary landscape and Leonardo was one of the first painters to use aerial perspective. 





21. One more thing that makes Mona Lisa uniquely intriguing is the fact that it has no clearly visible eyebrows or eyelashes.

22. The painting had suffered several minor damages especially its frame but was repaired carefully accurately by experts.

23. The painting has had many different decorative frames in its history and had undergone several cleaning, re-varnishing, and touch-up.

24. Another fascinating fact and great manifestation of Mona Lisa’s popularity is that about 6 million people view this masterpiece at the Louvre each year.Visitors generally spend about 15 seconds viewing the Mona Lisa.

25. Mona Lisa was exhibited in New York City and Washington D.C. in the United States from December 1962 to March 1963 for a period of 3 months. It was also exhibited in Moscow and Tokyo in 1974.

26. Mona Lisa is the 5th most expensive painting in the world. Its 1962 price of $100 million is approximately $700 million in 2010.

27. A Mona Lisa smoking a pipe was created by Sapeck in 1883 while Marcel Duchamp created a Mona Lisa with a moustache and a goatee and added the inscription "Elle a chaud au cul" which literally mean "she has a hot ass".

28. Some parts of the painting were damaged in several occasions. The first was in 1956, when the lower part of the painting was severely damaged by a vandal who doused the painting with acid.

29. The second was on December 30, 1956, when a rock was thrown by a young man named Ugo Ungaza Villegas from Bolivia that resulted in the loss of a speck of pigment near the left elbow. The damaged was later painted over.

30. The third attack on the painting occurred in April 1974 at the Tokyo National Museum when a lame woman sprayed red paint at the painting because she was upset by the museum's policy for disabled people. The painting was undamaged. 




31. The most recent attack on the painting was on August 2, 2009 when a Russian woman threw a terra cotta mug at the painting because of disappointment when she was denied French citizenship. The mug was purchased at the museum. The painting was undamaged.

32. To avoid further attacks and damages, the painting is now shielded by a bulletproof glass.

33. To avoid future damages, the painting is currently kept under strict, climate-controlled conditions maintaining humidity at 50% ±10%, and temperature between 18 and 21 °C.





World's Top Ten Most Brilliantly Colored and Prettiest Frogs

World's Top Ten Most Brilliantly Colored and Prettiest Frogs

Frogs are good leapers and they are noisy especially during rainy season. Many people find frogs scary. For others they are slimy and yucky and many frogs are considered ugly. But for others they find frogs yummy. Well, whatever your perceptions about frogs are, one thing is for sure, there are also beautiful and colorful species of frogs.

Here are the most brightly-colored and prettiest frogs in the world. Some of them are kept as pet. All the frogs on the list are multi-colored.

1. Common Reed Frog



If you don’t agree with me that the Common Reed Frog is colorfully attractive and pretty then there must be something wrong with my vision. This colorful frog which is scientifically named Hyperolius viridiflavus can be found in many African countries. In addition, this frog is not just lovely. It is also unique because it can change sex organ from female to male.

2. Malagasy Rainbow Frog



This colorful frog from the island of Madagascar which is scientifically named Scaphiophryne gottlebei is a burrowing frog than can attain a length of up to 4 cm and can stay underground for almost a year. This highly decorated frog is also known for a variety of common names such as Rainbow Burrowing Frog, Ornate Hopper, Gottlebe’s Narrow-mouthed Frog and ed Rain Frog. This popular pet animal is regarded as “one of the rarest and most remarkable amphibians” in the world.

3. Ranitomeya Amazonica




One of the most beautiful and multi-colored frogs that can be found in the Amazon is the Ranitomeya amazonica. This small but poisonous frog species of South America can attain a length of up to 1.9 centimeters.

4. Red-eyed Treefrog




Without a doubt, the Red-eyed Treefrog is definitely one of the most colorful frogs on the planet. Its red-colored eyes are noticeably captivating and attractive hence the common name. Scientifically named Agalychnis callidryas, this lovely creature can be found in Central America. It can grow up to length of 7.6 centimeters.

5. Harlequin Poison Frog 




In the wild, bright coloration is an indication that such creatures are poisonous and should serve as a warning to predators. Like many small and colorful frogs in South America, the Harlequin Poison Frog. Its binomial name is OOphaga histrionica and is also commonly called Harlequin Poison Dart Frog and can be found in Ecuador and Colombia.

6. Splendid Leaf Frog 




The Splendid Leaf Frog or Cruziohyla calcarifer is a beautiful and colorful tree frog that can be found in many Central and South American countries such as Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Colombia.

7. Ecuador Poison Frog 




Another tiny but beautifully and intricately colored frog of South America is the Ecuador Poison Frog or Ameerega bilinguis. It can be found in several countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Like many colorful frogs, it is also poisonous.

8. Baron's Mantella 




The lovely and attractive Baron’s Mantella or Matella baroni is a colorful frog that can be found in Madagascar. Like many frog species in the island, it is also threatened by loss of habitat. It is also commonly called Variegated Golden Frog and Madagascar Poison Frog.

9. Dyeing Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)



The multi-colored and astonishingly beautiful Dyeing Dart Frog is another poisonous frog species of South America particularly in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname.

10. Tomato Frog 




Undeniably, one of the most brightly-colored frogs on the planet is the tomato Frog or Crapaud Rouge de Madagascar. It was so-named due to the fact that its vibrant red-orange color resembles that of a tomato fruit. The bright coloration of this frog is an indication that it is toxic. The substance that it secretes from its skin can cause allergy to humans.


The Greatest Filipino Professional Boxers of the New Millennium

The Greatest Filipino Professional Boxers of the New Millennium

All throughout the history of boxing, several Filipino professional fighters became boxing legends and member of “Hall of Fame”. Among the most prestigious Filipino boxers of the past were Gabriel” Flash” Elorde who was inducted in the Boxing Hall of Fame,  Pancho Villa who was also elected in the Boxing Hall of Fame and others.

Needless to say, Manny Pacquiao is considered as the greatest Filipino boxer ever. Here are the greatest ring gladiators in our present time aside from Paquiao.

Nonito Donaire Jr.


Another Filipino-American professional boxer is Nonito Donaire, Jr. This 4-division world champion was the former WBO, the Ring, and Diamond Super Bantamweight champion. He also won the IBF Super Bantamweight, WBC and WBO Bantamweight, WBC and WBO Bantamweight, Interim WBA Super Flyweight and IBF Flyweight titles. With these impressive boxing records, he is regarded next to Manny Pacquiao as the greatest boxers of the new millennium.

Brian Viloria

Brian Viloria who is a Filipino-American professional boxer became WBO and WBA flyweight champion, WBC light flyweight champion, the WBC Light Flyweight and IBF Junior Flyweight champion of the world. With his records, Viloria can be considered one of the greatest Pinoy boxers of the new millennium.

Other promising and rising Filipino boxers who can be great given the right opportunity are the following:

Marvin Sonsona – former WBO Super Flyweight champion

John Riel Casimero – Current IBF Junior Flyweight and former WBO Light Flyweight Interim champion

Denver Cuello – former WBC International Minimumweight champion

Jundy Maraon – current WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion

Rolando Magbanua – current interim WBO Oriental bantamweight champion


Sylvester Lopez –current WBC Silver Super Flyweight Champion and is also the former WBC International Super Flyweight Champion.

The Best Foods Made From Fresh String Beans or Sitaw

The Best Foods Made From Fresh String Beans or Sitaw

What are the most popular and unique recipes for sitaw or string beans? Check the link for the answer.

Among the most popular and longest varieties of beans is the “string beans. It grows well in the different parts of the world especially in tropical regions. It grows well and highly productive in the Philippines. Here are some of the moist popular recipes you can cook with string beans locally known in Filipino language as “sitaw”. It is also called Green Bean and Snap Bean.

Boiled String Beans or Nilagang Sitaw



Boiled or Nilaga is the simplest way to cook string beans or sitaw. Simply cut the beans in serving cuts and put in a boiling water in a pot. Cook until tender and serve. Prepare a condiment composed of sliced tomatoes, calamansi juice, chili and bagoong or patis (fish sauce).

String Beans Adobo

One of the commonest way of cooking sitaw or string bean is Adobo. Cut the string beans about an inch long. Prepare onion and garlic and pork which are cut into small pieces. Saute garlic and onion and add pork. Simmer for a while and add sitaw or string beans. Add paminta or black better, laurel leaf and soy sauce (toyo) Cover pan stirring occasionally until cook. Serve hot.

String Beans With Chicken Liver and Gizzard




Sitaw or string bean with chicken liver and gizzard is a perfect and nutritious dish. Sautee garlic and onion and add chopped liver and garlic.  Cover until all water evaporated and add string beans cut into pieces an inch long. Season it with soy sauce, paminta and laurel. Cook until tender and serve hot.




Inabraw


String beans can also be added with sinigang na baboy, sinigang na baka and inabraw o dinengdeng. The Thai people have a unique way of eating string beans. They usually eat it raw and added with spicy ingredients.

The Best Recipes for Bangus or Milkfish

The Best Recipes for Bangus or Milkfish

One of the most abundant edible fish in the world for human consumption is the so-called “bangus” or milkfish. These fish are usually grown/farm in saline ponds.  Dagupan City, tagged as the “bangus capital of the Philippines” is the largest producer of milkfish in the country. Because of its abundance, the price of this good tasting fish is not so high. It is affordable for everybody.

Here are some of the best foods/recipes you can make from “bangus”. Always choose fresh fish when buying.














Relyenong Bangus
In a large clean, deboned and scaled milkfish or bangus whose meat is already removed and boiled, insert the mixture of sautéed garlic, onion & tomatoes; boiled fish meat, finely chopped carrots and siling berde; finely chopped ham and raisins; with flour and egg. Wrapped it with aluminum foil and fry or cook it in the oven.

Stuffed Bangus
Stuffed Bangus is a grilled food prepared by inserting into the empty stomach of the fish a mixture of finely chopped tomatoes, cabbage, ginger, onion and season with fish sauce and msg.

Paksiw na Bangus
Paksiw na bangus is an easy recipe to prepare. Put together in a pot the milkfish which is cut into pieces, vinegar, black pepper (ground and whole) siling pangsigang, fish sauce, ½ cup of water. cover and bring to boil until the fish is cook.

Sinigang na Bangus
In preparing Sinigang nab angus, you will need 2 medium-sized bangus slice in 3 parts, 1 medium-sized chopped onion, 2 pieces crushed ginger, patis, sliced tomatoes, siling haba or pansigang, camote tops or kangkong (abt 2 in long), radish (labanos) cut diagonally about 1 cm thick and tamarind powder.  In a pot with 6 cups of water, boil together ginger, onion and tomatoes. Add slices of bangus, cover and simmer in a medium fire. Add siling haba, kangkong and radish and let boil. Pour in the tamarind powder and fish sauce to taste, bring to boil for 5 minutes. Dish out and serve hot. Kangkong is called water spinach in English. Eggplant and okra can also be added.

Boneless Bangus
Boneless bangus is perfect for breakfast although it can be served also during lunch and dinner.  Boneless Bangus is prepared byslicing/ cutting the fish from the head to the tail in halves and marinated with vinegar, salt, pimiento or ground black pepper. It is cook by pan frying and served with a condiment which is a mixture of soy sauce and calamansi extract or vinegar, crushed garlic and calamansi extract. Catsup is also another alternative condiment.

Kilawing Bangus
Kilawin is a no-cook preparation of bangus or milkfish. Remove the scales and debone the fish. Cut into small cubes and flavor with salt, msg, chopped red chili (siling labuyo), calamansi extract or vinegar if calamansi is not available. This is good as appetizer. Just make sure that the bangus are fresh.

Inihaw na Bangus/Grilled


















Inihaw or grilling is the simplest way to cook bangus. Condiment for this is a mixture of bagoong, calamansi extract and chopped red chili. It is good for picnics and perfect as appetizer.

Tinapang Bangus/Smoked Milkfish

















Medium fish bangus or milkfish are also smoked. Cooking is pan frying and usually served with slices of tomatoes seasoned with msg and salt or fish sauce (patis)

The Best and Most Popular Philippine Fast Foods

The Best and Most Popular Philippine Fast Foods

What do you think is the most popular fast food chain in the Philippines? Check out the link to find the answer.

Fast food chains are the most favorite place of eating destinations of most people all over the world. They are the best choice by many because they don’t have to wait long for their orders unlike in restaurants where customers have to wait long for their foods to be served.

1. Jollibee




Undeniably, the most popular fast food chains in the Philippines is “Jollibee”. It has the largest food chains in the archipelago. It is the huge favorite of Filipinos because of its spaghetti which suits much the taste of Filipinos. The company’s chicken joy is also popular and is a heavy favorite. It is the favorite of young and old, rich and commoners alike. Jollibee has as a total of 2,510 stores worldwide.

2. McDonalds




McDonalds, which is a popular American fast food, is also popular in the Philippines. This fast food’s most popular foods include the very crispy and perfectly seasoned “French fries”, the huge and amazingly good “big mac”  and their enormously good-tasting crispy fried chicken. It has several branches all over the country. Most of its patrons belong to the middle class and elite.

3.  Chowking





















Chowking is another very popular fast food chain in the country. Chowking is the favorite destination of lovers of Filipino-Chinese foods. It specialized in Filipino-Chinese foods such as noodles and others. Among its most popular foods are Chao Pan, Laureate, Halo-halo, Wanton, Siopao and many others. It is a sister company of Jollibee.

4. Greenwich
















Greenwich is probably the most popular Philippine fast food that offers pizza. This sister company of the Jollibee, also offer other foods such as chicken and others. It has several food chains all over the Philippines. It is the largest pizza and pasta chains in the Philippines.

5. Pizza Hut








































Pizza Hut, an American restaurant chain, is another very popular fast food chain in the Philippines. Teens and pizza lovers favorite fast food chain is Pizza Hut. Like Greenwich, it specialized in pizza and their good-tasting “iced tea” is a favorite of Pizza Hut fanatics. This food chain has several branches which are located in the different parts of the country. Pizza Hut has more than 5,139 store locations in 94 other countries and territories around the world.

6. Mang Inasal



















Mang Inasal, which is another Filipino-owned fast food chain, is very popular among Filipinos who love chicken barbecue. Other foods are also offered at Inasal. Rice is unlimited if you order selected foods. Mang Inasal is one of the fastest growing fast food chains in the Philippines and has now scores of branches nationwide. It is the favorite fast food chain of chicken barbecue lovers.

7. KFC




















Chicken lovers favorite food hub is KFC. KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken is another American fast food chain that has been loved by millions of Filipinos. This food chain specialized in chicken. Their chicken barbecue is truly mouth-watering and gorgeously best tasting. All the ingredients of the foods they serve are all made of chicken. KFC is the the world's largest chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants.

  
8. Max’s




















Max’s, a food chain that offers the best chicken in town, is the favorite destination of chicken lovers especially among the wealthy ones. It has several branches from all over the archipelago.

Other popular fast food chains in the Philippines include Tokyo Tokyo – the most popular Japanese fast food chain, Kenny Rogers, Cindy’s – both popular American fast foods and several others.