People are So Bored at CAPTCHA's

As the title of this post suggests, maybe some are inconvenienced by this added security feature to check whether an actual human being or a cheat robot is using a particular site. So the CAPTCHA, stands for "Completely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart," became a well-known security feature so that spam and other malicious things happening around the web, are avoided.

It could sometimes be a total pain especially when you have to type in long words and sometimes you may not be able to recognize the symbols being displayed in a funky manner. 

But to keep things less boring, you should be able to catch these silly captchas I found (Heads up: some are really offensive): 

For females only.

 

Maybe the guys will like this. Either that, or they only get to have this on CAPTCHA only:

  

Super racist? 

Wiki has a point...

This must have hurt many (youch!).

Out of the closet?

 For the PINOY men, kindly use in a sentence!

Now, who says CAPTCHAs are boring?

Celebrate Your Love of God

 kirb.us

Inspirational You
by Michelle Yankes

I pray for You to be with me
in the moments I need inspiration
to fulfill my life's pathway
with creative moments and joy.

I know my journey consists of
more than just monumental events,
but is filled with day-to-day activities
that lead me to my greatest work.

I find my joy and inspiration all around me
because You have laid it there,
right in front of me.

A beautiful sunrise, a golden sunset,
my children laughing, my husband gleaming,
the dogs wrestling, the wind caressing my skin.

All of these are Your doing,
but each of them inspires me
to be more than I am right now.

My Amnesia Girl In SD!

It’s been a while since I’ve looked forward to viewing a good Filipino movie - especially those starring by brilliant actors like John Lloyd Cruz (JLC).

Though some may say that it’s reminiscent of the movie “50 First Dates”, I still think it’s not gonna be another let down because the brilliant chemistry of the leads, JLC and Toni Gonzaga. I never imagined a love team forming between them, but it seems to actually work, and the PDAs are incredibly believable. The “kilig” factor is definitely there!

So essentially the story revolves around 2 individuals in finally finding love in each other - exchanging very cheesy pick up lines, going out on dates - just like how normal young couples do.

There is, however, just this one setback - the leading lady has amnesia and totally forgets who the person she’s dealing with. Now, outstanding the question is left for all: Kung nabubura ang laman ng isipan, nabubura rin kaya ang laman ng puso? (If thoughts can be forgotten or “deleted”, will the heart also forget the feeling?)

Here’s a little clip:


I think it‘s already showing in Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego! I can’t wait for my husband to get on dry land so we can watch this!

NBI Clearance in Mandaluyong City Hall

Okay, so I totally forgot about posting this topic because of a ton of things I needed to accomplish, as my timeline suggests.

My first attempt to get an NBI clearance was years back (2003), because I needed this piece of document for employment purposes. I went to the Carriedo Branch and surprisingly, the experience was not so bad after all, even if we could say that the line resembled a human caterpillar detangling itself. But then again, it was really organized, and the ride was fairly smooth. 

Here‘s the best part, renewals are much easier because you can swing by at the nearest NBI kiosk, which gives you a shorter queue on off-peak days. For more information about my experience in renewing the NBI Clearance in SM Megamall, click here. 

Months ago, I decided to have my NBI clearance updated to my married name. Reasons would include the fact that I urgently needed this piece of identification:

- as a requirement for my CR1 application;
- that it IS considered a valid ID; and lastly,
- it was SUPPOSEDLY the easiest to update.
 

The last item appeared to be false (well, in my case, at least).
 

Forget the long lines from renewal kiosks, because changing your maiden name into a married one is completely like applying the NBI clearance for the first time. 

To do this, you have to go to a NBI Satellite Office (NOT a renewal kiosk). You can do the application at the following locations:
1. Quezon City Hall **
2. Pasig City Hall **
3. Muntinlupa City Hall **
4. San Pablo City Hall **
5. POEA **
6. Kalibo, Aklan **
7. Las Pinas City hall
8. Mandaluyong City Hall
9. Caloocan City Hall
10. Valenzuela City Hall
11. Marilao, Muncipal Hall
12. Los Banos Municipal Hall
13. Taytay Rizal, Municipal Hall

** Installed with computers. Releases NO HIT clearances applied on the same day (thanks to blog4charity.org).

My proximity to the Mandaluyong City Hall branch was the supposedly perfect place for me to have my NBI Clearance updated. Well, it was! Since I lived in that very district, I did not hesitate for a second to rush its expected busy office.

Well, almost rushed there. I arrived at 3pm -- bad idea! It’s because their cut off is only until 3. You may think that it’s quite unfair for a government office to have a cut off time, but you’d really understand why -- it’s even quite impossible for them to finish by 5pm because of the volume of people trying to avail of their services.

So as a tip, transact before 3pm! Do not even think about going to a kiosk, because they won’t entertain you if you needed to change your name or status.

What to bring:
1.  Current NBI clearance (no photocopies allowed) - it’s okay if you were not able to bring it on the day of your renewal. They will just ask you to fill out the NBI Application Form- the kind that first-timers use.

As a suggestion, BRING it. It is a way of immediately identifying you, so that they wouldn’t need to “double-check” your identity.

2. CEDULA - this is to prove that you are indeed a resident of Mandaluyong City. You see, it’s a way for them to make sure that actual residents of the city are getting the benefits of utilizing the town’s facilities. All you need to do is show it to them, and you are not to submit this as a requirement. 

3. Amount of PhP115 processing fee.
 

There is actually only one counter/window opened to submit the form and pay the processing fee. You will just have to wait for your name to be called for the image capture, which is basically also the window beside it. You will just have to stand (or sit) behind the white “background” provided and look at their web cam to capture your smile. Note: you may sometimes not realize that they already took your picture so better be on the alert side.

And then you wait.

Agonizing, I say, because you will have to wait under a “tent” used for street birthday parties and wakes. They have also provided monobloc seats and benches for all applicants who are likewise waiting for their name to be called. Yes, you’d have to wait in “open air” and sometimes, under the scorching heat. You could be lucky if there are unoccupied seats. It was brutal because it’s gonna be humid, noisy and tiring, so a mini-merienda and some drinks would be helpful to cope with hunger and possible dehydration.

I also mentioned it was noisy. You will hear someone shouting out instructions or people’s names through a loud speaker, even if it wasn’t necessary especially if you already have a device that will already blast your voice. Aside from that, the windows to the right also has their own microphone that will blast the names of people getting the Mandaluyong Police Clearance. At least the man there did not have to shout. 

And for about an hour or so, you will finally hear your name once they find your records “clear”, meaning, no hits or similar name. Otherwise, they will ask you to return after 1 week on a time they will specify just to get your clearance. So for those with unique names, good for you!

Unfortunately for me, I was one of those that needed to go back because they must have seen me with a “hit”. For those who know my full name, I don’t think everyone will agree that I have a namesake with anyone else in the world, especially with my new married name. You could probably imagine the odds.
 

On the other hand, it may be because I wasn’t able to give my personal copy of my NBI clearance and filled out the form as a new applicant. I only assumed this because they may think that I would have a namesake, which is just probably myself! Haha!

So after a week, I went back to get my NBI clearance. Went as early as an hour before the schedule, but the staff said to wait at 4pm, since it was their specified time to accommodate all those who were asked to come back. No exceptions.
 

So I waited again, only because I don’t want to be shouted at by the ones calling out the names. They are sometimes giving out nasty comments to the “pasaway” people who have nothing to do but make their job worse by asking if they were already called or if they could already get their NBI clearance.

Finally I got my NBI clearance. For some reason, I always get called last! Maybe it’s because I have THAT ENOUGH patience to endure waiting unlike those that were with me.

And I was so glad that I had to change my name once!