PTB Facts: Things You Need to Know

What is PTB?

Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) is a contagious disease of the lungs caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although the bacteria generally affect the lungs, they also affect other areas such as the spine, the kidneys, and the brain. To differentiate, tuberculosis of the lungs is referred to as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and the tuberculosis in other areas as extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). PTB is more common.

oDesk Freelancing 101

So you’ve decided to try your hands at freelancing. Naturally, oDesk would be among your top choices to market your skills and look for jobs. After all, oDesk is one of the top global marketplaces these days. Not to be a downer or anything, but don’t assume that landing jobs at oDesk is easy. There’s a very stiff competition, and some people somewhere are always willing to take on a job for a rate so slow it’s almost like they are offering their services for free. Contractors would also prefer to hire freelancers with experience and whose profiles are the Chuck Norris of oDesk. But take heart and don’t be disheartened. Those freelancers with 10,000 hours worked and 6/5 reviews have to start somewhere, right?

Divergent Roads and Friends Lost Along the Way

Have you ever suddenly, out of the blue, thought of dear friends you haven't been in contact with for years? Have you ever felt like a part of you was left somewhere your roads have diverged, probably lost to you forever the same moment you and your friend decided to follow different paths in life, and you were not even aware about it? Have you ever smiled a small whimsical smile and felt a heaviness in your heart thinking of the fun things you had with your friends in the past?

E-reader vs Printed Books: Is One Really Better than the Other?

Avid readers probably go through the dilemma of whether to get an e-reader or just stay with printed books at one time or another. On one hand, printed books, especially old ones that smell moldy and whose pages have been yellowed with age, make reading more intimate and meaningful. On the other hand, an e-reader is slim and light and very handy and can store thousands of books, which is convenient especially if you travel.  There’s also the matter of saving trees (get an e-reader and help save trees that way) and the unreliability of technology (stick with tangible books because they don’t have batteries that run out).

At Waffle Island Coffee Shop

After work last night, Rhea and I went to Country Mall for some groceries. We passed by the new waffle place on the second level of the mall's right wing that we promised ourselves we'd try one day. I can't remember what the place used to be, but now there stands there a waffle place, called Waffle Island Coffee Shop, that looks homey enough you'd want to invite yourself in. They have this poster outside the shop.

Another Dinner at KFC with Rhea Mae

Last night, because my minor case of cold made me crave for something hot and spicy, acidity problem be damned, Rhea (one of my office gal pals) and I went looking at the menus of the different restaurants near our office. But since our dinner was not planned, I did not want to spend more than Php200 on a single serving of soup that was on the menu of the rather pricey Japanese and Korean restaurants we checked out. Instead, we ended up at KFC, ordering their Chicken Burger Steak, which we told ourselves we would try the next time we went there. For Php50 inclusive of drinks, the food is okay for both your tummy and your wallet (if you are on a tight budget).