My Daughter's 1st experience with the Vending Machine

If either my children or their friends have events at or outside of their school, you can count on me to follow my promise and share any relevant updates with you. At the wake that was conducted for our grandma at Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, my family and I went there in order to offer our respects and show our support for the family.

In the midst of my children's exploration of the area, they eventually returned to me to request funds. When I asked them what they were going to purchase, they told me that they were going to get a cup of coffee from a vending machine.

Oh, this place, Cosmopolitan Davao, really has a vending machine? For fun, I grabbed my Android tablet and went with my kids to the vending machine. People are waiting in line to get a hot or cold cup of coffee or Milo.

There are two models of NESCAFE vending machines, namely, Automated Vending Machines (AVM’s) and Tabletops. Both offer a wide variety of basic and specialty selections from hot coffees to hot chocolate by NESCAFE and MILO. These recipes carry a winning taste with consumers of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO’s) and Offices where these machines are mostly located.

AVMs, or Automated Vending Machines, also have soft drinks and juices.

I am so glad to know that we already have an AVM here in Davao City.

Free vending, coin-operated, and card-operated options are all available in vending machines. Coins are accepted at this automated teller machine. A cup of coffee, Milo, juice, or soft drink will cost you ten or twelve pesos (PHP), respectively.

• INSERT COIN, BILL or CARD.

•  TAKE YOUR PICK.

• WAIT TO LOAD CUP.

• FINISH LOADING ( Lights are OFF).

• GET YOUR CUP NOW.

It's a brilliant concept to give each and every customer a wide selection of hot and cold beverages to choose from without making a mess or making them wait. The process of getting in line takes only a moment. It is very simple to use, and it also has the capacity to take and hand out change.

          

GROUP STUDY

It is normal practice for many students to participate in either group studies or study groups in order to better prepare for class discussion, examinations, or presentations in class. You can also do it to review your weak parts and discover new concepts. Both of these benefits come from doing it. For me, taking part in a study group is necessary at some point if I want to learn new things well. 

My oldest daughter hosted a group study session in our home for her and her chosen girl's classmates just now. As I watch them learn, I can't help but think back to my own school days. My own experiences have shown that participating in a study group encourages the majority of my fellow students to be supportive in terms of my efforts to study and keep my readings current. It not only helps me acquire new ideas but also critical points that I may have overlooked in my previous reading. The majority of people in my study group aren't shy about passing on the information that they've learned. As a result, these serve as a reminder to me that I ought to bring my readings up to speed so that I can also contribute something.

On the other hand, being a part of a study group that requires you to compel yourself to attend after the class or during your rest days is one of the disadvantages of participating in such a group. The level of commitment displayed by each individual participant is an essential component of the study group. As a result, you and the other members of your group will need to forego participating in any other activities in order to study together.

And one more thing: if you and your other students are simply having a good time and forgetting about the material being studied during the study group, then that is another problem. It is the parents' responsibility to ensure that their children are studying in groups and are not having fun, giggling, or gossiping while doing their homework. A constant presence of parental guidance is required.

It is entirely up to you whether or not you want to sign up for a study group; there are some people who perform better academically when they work on their own. If you think that joining or making a group will help you learn more, then go ahead and take advantage of this fun way to learn. 

ALIVE, ALERT and ENTHUSIASTIC

Bowling is a popular past time in the United States. It has been one of the Filipino people's favorite activities for many years, or at least a decade, so I would say. Regardless of whether favorable or unfavorable conditions are prevailing in this nation, there are no indications that the expansion of the sport will be slowed down. Bowling has been popular for a very long time, and there is no indication that this trend will ever change.

Photo credit to rosebowllegends

It doesn't matter how old you are, how much money you have, or if you're a guy or a woman; anyone can play this game with ease. Like my daughter, Mikaela. Bowling is a fun activity that she enjoys doing with her friends and cousins.

Mikay with her BOWLING BALL and  BOWLING SHOES

MIKAY AT WORK...

She insisted on playing bowling despite the fact that she had asthma. A very lively girl. I was mistaken in assuming that her asthma would prevent her from participating in the game. She wins the competition with higher overall scores. And she has my utmost admiration and respect.

Bowling is a lot more enjoyable when done with a group of buddies. You will hear people laughing, and it is safe to assume that everyone of them is a beginner or a newcomer to the game. But they make it look easy, almost as if they are professionals in the field.

Chelsea and I are having a good time just watching them interact with one another.

Bowling is a pleasant activity for kids, and because it gets them moving and exercising their bodies, it also makes them feel more alive, alert, and enthusiastic.

They can improve their bowling skills in the virtual world by using their own personal computers or laptops to engage in the activity.

A bowling game designed for children is made even more enjoyable when Boowa is there to encourage them. Try your hand at this kid-friendly bowling game and see how many pins you can knock down.

Strike ! This is an activity that the kids will really like. Do you have a few minutes to spare so that the kids can play this bowling game?

boowakwala

FIRST DAY of SCHOOL

June 4, 2012, Monday, 6AM.   The first day of school has begun. Sometimes a new school means starting over with a new teacher, new friends, new shoes, new bags, and new notes. And most importantly, a fresh day to begin the day early.

I am a single mom, so getting up early to make breakfast for my kids is a necessity for me. It is so difficult to get the day started when you are already accustomed to waking up late. However, it is our responsibility to see to the needs of our children.

1. BAON    √
2. MONEY      √
3. BAGS         √
4. HANKY       √
5. UMBRELLA √  .....etc..etc....

Hurry up, children!!! It is now time to go to school.

Chelsea in her 4th grade and Mikaela in her 6th grade

My kids together with their  friends going to school

TWO KIDS playing CHESS

Chess has been thought of for a long time as a game that can help people learn and grow, especially if they start playing it when they are young.

When my daughter Chelsea and her friend Krizzha are playing chess, they often ask me how the game should be played correctly. This is one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me. To tell you the truth, I have absolutely no idea how to play chess either. I replied to them by saying, "Before they play that game, they are required to first study the fundamental strategy of how to play chess."

It is never too late to learn how to play chess, which is often considered to be the most popular game in the world. Continue reading if you have no prior experience with the game and want to find out all of the rules and strategies involved.

Why is it popular?

1. They hone their abilities in areas such as analysis, synthesis, and decision making, all of which may be applied to the actual world.
   
   
2. They will acquire the skills necessary to conduct in-depth and exhaustive study on chess, which will assist them in developing confidence in their abilities to conduct research for academic purposes.
   
   
3. Children will benefit from gaining an understanding of the nature of competition, which will serve them well in any competitive pursuit they undertake.
   
   
4. When children play the game of chess, it requires them to use higher-order thinking abilities such as analyzing actions and their resulting repercussions and visualizing the possibilities of the future.
   
   
5. In regions where chess is frequently taught in schools, pupils are adept at spotting complicated patterns, which aids their performance in math and science.

Starting a Game

The chessboard is first arranged so that each player has a white (or light-colored) square on the bottom right-hand side. The chess pieces are then always positioned in the same manner. The second row (or rank) contains pawns. The rooks are placed in the corners, followed by the knights, the bishops, the queen, who is always placed on her own matching color (white queen on white, black queen on black), and the king on the last square. 

The player whose pieces are white always moves first. Therefore, players typically determine who will be white based on chance or luck, such as by tossing a coin or having one player estimate the color of a concealed pawn in the other player's hand. The next move is made by white, then black, then white, then black, and so on until the end of the game.

How the Chess Pieces Move

Each of the six distinct piece types travels differently. A piece cannot go through another piece (though the knight can jump over other pieces), nor can it move onto a square with one of its own pieces. However, they can be moved to capture an opponent's piece by exchanging places with it. In general, pieces are moved into positions from which they can capture other pieces (by landing on their square and then replacing them), defend their own pieces in the event of capture, or control crucial game squares.

THE KING

Despite being the most vital piece, the king is one of the weakest. The king can only move one square in any direction, including up, down, sideways, and diagonally. To see how the king can move around the board, click the ">" button in the diagram below. The king might never be placed in check (where he could be captured).

THE QUEEN

The queen is the strongest component in the game. If she is moved, she may move as far as feasible in any straight direction (forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally) as long as she does not pass through any of her own pieces. As with all pieces, the queen's turn ends when she captures an opponent's piece.

THE ROOK

The rook can move in any direction, including forward, backward, and to the side, but it can only go in those three directions. The rooks are some of the most powerful pieces in the game when they are cooperating with one another and helping to defend one another.

THE BISHOP

The bishop is restricted to moving in a diagonal direction and may travel as far as it pleases. Each bishop begins the game on a single color, either light or dark, and is required to remain on that color throughout the game. Because they cover each other's weaknesses, bishops collaborate effectively with one another.

THE KNIGHT

The knight's movement is notably distinct from that of the other pieces in the game, since it consists of two squares in one direction, followed by one more square at an angle of 90 degrees, resembling the shape of a "L." In addition, knights are the only pieces that may move horizontally over other chess pieces.

THE PAWN

Pawns are unique in that they travel forward but capture in a diagonal direction. This gives them a distinct advantage over other pieces in the game. Pawns are restricted to moving forward just one square at a time, with the exception of their very first move, in which case they are permitted to advance forward two squares. It is only possible for pawns to seize the square that is diagonally in front of them. They are unable to move or be captured in rearward directions at any time. When there is another piece in a pawn's path right in front of him, he is unable to move past that piece or capture it.

• PAWN PROMOTION

Another one of the pawn's unique abilities is the capacity to transform into any other piece on the board once it has crossed over to the opposite side of the chessboard (called promotion). It is possible for a pawn to advance to any other piece. [NOTE: It is a frequent misunderstanding that pawns can only be traded in for a piece once it has been captured. This is not the case.] [This is not accurate.] A pawn is typically elevated to the position of queen. It is possible to promote only pawns.

• EN PASSANT

The final rule about pawns is termed "en passant," which literally translates to "in passing" from its original language of French. If a pawn makes its first move by advancing two squares, and by doing so, lands to the side of an opponent's pawn (effectively jumping past the other pawn's ability to capture it), then the other pawn has the option of capturing the first pawn as it passes by. This only applies if the first pawn moves out two squares on its first move. If you don't make this special move right away after the initial pawn has moved past, you won't have the choice to capture it and the game will continue.

CASTLING

Castling is the name of one more specific exception to the rule. This move gives you the opportunity to accomplish two significant goals in a single step: get your king to a safe position (hopefully), and bring your rook back into the action after it was trapped in the corner. On a player’s turn he may move his king two squares over to one side and then move the rook from that side’s corner to right next to the king on the opposite side.

However, in order for it to be considered a castle, it must fulfill the following requirements:

1. It must be the very first move made by that king.
   
   
2. It must be the very first move made by that rook.
   
   
3. It is impossible for there to be any movable pieces between the king and the rook in this position.
   
   
4. It is not possible for the king to be in check or to pass through check.

It is important to take note that the king moves closer to the edge of the board in the direction in which you castle. This location is referred to as the kingside. The process of casting to the opposite side, through the area where the queen sits, is referred to as castling queenside. Whenever the king castles, he never moves more than two squares, regardless of which side he is on.

CHECK & CHECKMATE

As was mentioned earlier, the objective of the game is to checkmate the king of the opposing player. This occurs when the king is placed under check and is unable to escape from the check position. There are only three methods for a king to get out of check: moving out of the way (albeit he cannot castle! ), blocking the check with another piece, or capturing the piece that is threatening the king. Moving out of the path is the easiest approach. If a king is unable to avoid checkmate, the game is over and the winner has been determined. Traditionally, the game is over when the king is either taken or removed from the board; instead, the game is simply concluded.

DRAWS

Chess matches can go to a draw on occasion rather than concluding with one player emerging victorious. A draw can occur in a chess game for any one of the following five reasons:

1. A stalemate occurs in a position when it is a player's turn to move, but that player does not have his king in check and does not have another legal move available to him.
   
   
2. It is possible for the players to come to an agreement to call a draw and end the game.
   
   
3. Checkmate cannot be achieved because there are not enough pieces on the board (example: a king and a bishop vs. a king).
   
   
4. If a player occupies the exact same position three times in a row, the game is considered a draw (though not necessarily three times in a row).
   
   
5. After fifty successive moves, neither player has moved a pawn or captured a piece. This state of play has continued for the whole game.

BASIC STRATEGY

Every chess player should be familiar with four simple concepts:

1. Keep your king safe. Get your king to a board corner, where he is typically safer. Do not delay castling. Typically, you should castle as quickly as possible. Remember that it makes no difference how close you are to checkmating your opponent if your king gets checkmated first!
   
   
2. Don't hand out any of the pieces.  Be careful not to lose your parts carelessly! Every piece is important, and you can't checkmate your opponent if you don't have enough of them.
   
   
3. Control the center. Your goal should be to use your pieces and pawns to establish dominance in the middle of the board. If you are able to take control of the center of the board, not only will you have more room to move your pieces, but you will also make it more difficult for your opponent to find squares that are suitable for his pieces.
   
   
4. Use all of your pieces. When they are placed further back on the first row, your pieces are not doing you any favors. You should make an effort to develop all of your pieces so that you have more options available to you when you attack the king. The use of only one or two pieces in an attack can never be successful against a competent adversary.

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd53. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nxd5 Nf65. Nxc7+ Kd8 6. Nxa8 Ne47. f3 Bf5 8. fxe4 Bxe4

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Most chess players utilize a simple technique to keep track of the relative value of each piece:

• A pawn is worth 1
  
  
• A knight is worth 3
  
  
• A bishop is worth 3
  
  
• A rook is worth 5
  
  
• A queen is worth 9
  
  
• The king is of immeasurable worth.

This is merely a system that you can use to make decisions while you are playing the game, helping you know when it is the right time to capture, exchange, or make other actions. At the end of the game, these points don't represent anything at all.

1. e4 a6 2. d4 h5 3. Nf3Rh6 4. Bxh6 Nxh6 5. Bc4b6 6. O-O f6 7. Nc3 g68. Re1 Bg7 9. Qd3 Bb710. Rd1 Qc8 11. e5 Qd812. Qxg6+ Kf8 13. exf6Bxf6 14. Qxh6+ Ke815. Qg6+ Kf8 16. Qf7#

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GETTING BETTER AT CHESS

Learning the rules and some fundamental strategies is just the beginning of your chess education; there is so much more to discover about this game that you will never be able to master it all in your lifetime. To make progress, you will need to perform the following three things:

• Play

Just keep playing! Try to get in as much playtime as you can. You should take something useful away from every game that you play, whether or not you win.

• Study

If you really want to make significant progress in a short amount of time, you should get a [good chess book]. You can also study more effectively and advance your game by using the many resources that are available on chess.com.

• Have fun!

Do not allow yourself to become disheartened if you do not immediately win all of your games. Losing is a part of life for everyone, including world winners. You will never stop enjoying chess so long as you keep a positive attitude, play to have fun, and try to improve even when you lose.

What Will Be the Benefit of Playing Chess? According to research, test scores improved by 17.3% for students regularly engaged in chess classes, compared to only 4.6% for children participating in other forms of enriched activities, "states 4-time World Champion Susan Polgar in a recent interview." Chess is incorporated into the country's scholastic curriculum in approximately 30 countries around the world, including Brazil, China, Venezuela, Italy, Israel, Russia, and Greece, amongst others. In the same way that participating in sports is a necessary component of the curriculum in schools in the United States, chess has traditionally been treated in the same manner in the nations of Europe.

Am I allowing my daughter to play chess? Yes, definitely. Even if you are not a chess player yourself, you should let the youngster explain the game to you and encourage him or her to tell you everything that happens. You can be firm with your child up to a certain point, but after that, you should back off. Your primary concern should be ensuring the happiness of your child.