Nung vacuum cleaner salesman pa ako, pumunta ako sa isang bahay sa aming barangay. Kumatok ako sa pinto... Isang malaking misis ang nagbukas sa akin. Pero bago nakapagsalita ang babae, inunahan ko sya. Mabilis akong pumasok papunta sa sala nila para di na makatanggi sa presentation ko.

Katulad ng utos ng boss ko, binuksan ko ang isang plastic bag ng SM at ibinuhos lahat ng lamang tae ng kalabaw sa carpet. This was a technique taught to me in selling to get a massive and immediate attention from the buyer. Sabi ko sa kanya, with confidence: "Misis, pag di nalinis ng vacuum cleaner ko NGAYON ang mga tae sa carpet niyo, kakainin ko isa-isa iyan!", ang yabang ko.

"Gusto mo ng ketsup para diyan?", tanong ng babae.

Sabi ko, "Bakit po?"

"Eh, kalilipat lang namin. Wala pa kaming kuryente."

He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minnesota. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. [He was] very neat in appearance but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischieviousness delightful.

Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving: "Thank you for correcting me, Sister!" I didn't know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.

One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice teacher's mistake. I looked at him and said, "If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!"

It wasn't ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, "Mark is talking again." I hadn't asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it.

I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark's desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room. As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing, he winked at me. That did it! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark's desk, removed the tape and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, "Thank you for correcting me, Sister."

At the end of the year I was asked to teach junior high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instructions in the "new math," he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in the third.

One Friday, things just didn't feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves - and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish the assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled. Mark said, "Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend."

That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" I heard whispered. "I never knew that meant anything to anyone!" "I didn't know others liked me so much!" No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.

That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip - the weather, my experiences in general. There was a light lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and simply said, "Dad?" My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. "The Eklunds called last night," he began. "Really?" I said. "I haven't heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is."

Dad responded quietly. "Mark was killed in Vietnam," he said. "The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend." To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark.

I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was, Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me. The church was packed with Mark's friends. Chuck's sister sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water.

I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who had acted as pallbearer came up to me. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. "Mark talked about you a lot," he said.

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates headed to Chuck's farmhouse for lunch. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

Mark's classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home." Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put this in our wedding album." "I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary." Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said, without batting an eyelash. "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

By: Sister Helen P. Mrosla


The purpose of this letter, is to encourage everyone to compliment the people you love and care about. We often tend to forget the importance of showing our affections and love. Sometimes the smallest of things could mean the most to another. I am asking you to please express your love and caring by complimenting and being open with communication. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, I beg of you, to tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.


Origins: This inspirational tale of the "teacher who made a difference" (and its unnecessary explanatory coda) can be found on hundreds of web sites all over the Internet and has been widely forwarded as a "good luck" chain letter via e-mail. And why not? It epitomizes principles we fervently wish to believe: that a dedicated educator (and religion) can make a positive, lasting difference in one's life; and that the world would be a better place if we found it in our hearts to reach out to each other. (Just in case we missed the point, the didactic end paragraph states it explicitly.)

"All the Good Things" first appeared in Proteus, A Journal of Ideas in 1991; and from there went to Reader's Digest, on whose pages it appeared the same year (1991). The piece was reprinted in the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book (1993), and offered yet again in Stories for the Heart (1996).

Of course, we're constantly asked, "Is this true?" To which we reply, "Does it make a difference?" Like Parson Weems' tale of George Washington and the cherry tree, "All the Good Things" is a story that asks us to consider its message, not its literal truthfulness. But since you want to know, the answer is yes. We contacted St. Mary's school in Morris, Minnesota, and they verified that the story is indeed a true one. There was a Mark Eklund, there is a Sister Mrosla, and there was such a list.

How does the author feel about this story becoming wildly popular on the Internet? According to an interview with Associated Press, though Sister Mrosla is happy people are reading the story, she's unhappy it has become a chain letter promising good luck to recipients who pass it on. "It cheapens it somehow."

If your birthday is on......

December 23rd~ January 1st = Red
January 2nd ~ January 11th = Orange
January 12th ~ January 24th = Yellow
January 25th ~ February 3rd = Pink
February 4th ~ February 8th = Blue
February 9th ~ February 18th = Green
February 19th ~ February 28th = Brown
March 1st ~ March 10th = Aqua
March 11th ~ March 20th = Lime
March 21st = Black
March 22nd ~ March 31st = Purple
April 1st ~ April 10th = Navy
April 11th ~ April 20th = Silver
April 21st ~ April 30th = White
May 1st ~ May 14th = Blue
May 15th ~ May 24th = Gold
May 25th ~ June 3rd= Cream
June 4th ~ June 13th = Grey
June 14th ~ June 23rd = Maroon
June 24th = Grey
June 25th ~ July 4th = Red
July 5th ~ July 14th = Orange
July 15th ~ July 25th = Yellow
July 26th ~ August 4th = Pink
August 5th ~ August 13th = Blue
August 14th ~ August 23rd = Green
August 24th ~ September 2nd = Brown
September 3rd ~ September 12th = Aqua
September 13th ~ September 22nd = Lime
September 23rd = Olive
September 24th ~October 3rd = Purple
October 4th ~ October 13th = Navy
October 14th ~ October 23rd = Silver
October 24th ~November 11th = White
November 12th ~ November 21st = Gold
November 22nd ~ December 1st = Cream
December 2nd ~ December 11th = Grey
December 12th~ December 21st = Maroon
December 22nd = Teal
********************************************************

*RED*
Cute and lovable type, You are picky but always in love... and liked to be
loved. Fresh and cheerful, but can be "moody" at times. Capable with people
nice, soft, and that can love you for the way you are. Likes people that are
easy to talk to, and can make you feel comfortable.

----------------------------------------------------------


*CREAM*
Competitive and sportive. Don't like losing and always cheerful! You are
trustworthy, and very out going. You choose love carefully, and don't fall
in love easily. But once you find the right one, you don't let go or a long
time.

----------------------------------------------------------

*TEAL*
You are mostly interested in your looks. And have high standards in picking
love. You think and make a solution precisely, and hardly make stupid
mistakes. You like to lead, and is easy for you to make new friends.

----------------------------------------------------------

*GREY*
You are attractive, and active. You never hide your feelings, and express
everything that's inside. But can be selfish at times. You want to be
noticed, and don't like to be treated unequally. You can brighten up peoples
day. You know what to say at the right time, and you have a good sense of
humor.

----------------------------------------------------------

*GREEN*
You get along well with new people. You are not really a shy person, but
sometimes you can hurt people's feelings by your words... You like to be
loved and noticed by your lover, but mostly you are single, waiting for the
right person.

----------------------------------------------------------

*GOLD*
You know what's right and what's wrong. You are cheerful and out going. It's
hard for you to find the one you want, but once you find the right person,
you won't be able to fall in love again for a long time.

----------------------------------------------------------

*PINK*
You are always trying your best in everything, and like to help and care for
other people. But you are not easily satisfied. You have negative thoughts,
and you look for romantic love like in a fairytale.

----------------------------------------------------------

*YELLOW*
You are sweet and innocent. Trusted by many people, and have a strong
leadership towards relationships. You make good decision and make the right
choice at the right time. And always dreaming of romantic relationship.

----------------------------------------------------------

*MAROON*
You are intelligent, and know what's right. You like to make things go your
way, which can sometimes cause trouble for not thinking about other people's
feelings. But you be patient when it comes to love.. Once you get a hold of
the right person, it's hard for you to find a better love.

----------------------------------------------------------

*ORANGE*
You are responsible for your own actions, and you know how to treat
people.You always have goals to reach and you really work hard to get there,
you are competitive. Your friends are really important to you and you
appreciate what you have, you sometimes over react that's because you are
sensitive.

----------------------------------------------------------

*PURPLE*
You are mysterious, never selfish and get interested in things easily. Your
day can be sad or happy depending on your mood. You are popular between
friends but you can act stupid at times, and forget things easily. You go
for a person that's trustworthy.

----------------------------------------------------------

*LIME*
You are calm, but easily stressed out. You get jealous easily, and complain
over little things. You can't get stuck into one thing, but you have a
capable personality for everyone to trust you and like you.

----------------------------------------------------------

*SILVER*
You are imaginative and fun, you love trying new things. You like to
challenge yourself and you learn things easily, you're easy to talk to and
you give good advice. When comes to friendship, you find it hard to trust
someone, but once you find the right friend, you trust them forever.

----------------------------------------------------------

*BLACK*
You are challenging, and have the "guts". But you don't like changes in your
life. And once you make a decision, you keep it that way for a long time.
Your love life is also challenging, and different.

----------------------------------------------------------

*OLIVE*
You are warm and light hearted. You seem to flow well with friends and
family. You don't like violence and know what's right. You are kind and
cheerful, but don't envy other people easily.

----------------------------------------------------------

*BROWN*
You are active and sportive. It's hard for other people to become close with
you, but you fall in love easily. But once you find out you can't get
something, you give up and let go easily as well.

----------------------------------------------------------

*BLUE*
You may have low self-esteem, and can be very picky. You are artistic and
like to fall in love, but you let your love pass by, by loving with your
mind, not your heart.

----------------------------------------------------------

*NAVY*
You are attractive, and love your life. You have a strong feeling towards
everything. And very easily distracted. Once you get angry at someone, its
hard for you to forgive them.

----------------------------------------------------------

*WHITE*
You dream and have goals in your life. You get jealous easily and you don't
react to things easily. You are different and sometimes weird, but everyone
loves that in you.

----------------------------------------------------------

*AQUA*
Your feelings change suddenly and easily. You are always lonely, and like
traveling. You are truthful, but listen and believe other people too easily.
It's hard to find love for you, and get lost in love easily. Sometimes get
hurt by love.

Hindi niya akalain na mangyayari sa kanya iyon. Wala pang tatlong buwan silang magkatipan ng kanyang nobya na nasa Maynila at doon nagtatrabaho ay pinalitan na siya.

Isang araw, nakatanggap siya ng sulat mula sa kanyang nobya. Tapos na raw ang lahat sa kanila at binabawi na nito ang litrato na ibinigay sa kanya. Sinabi rin nitong ipadala ang litrato sa madaling panahon by return mail. Binigyan pa siya ng selyo. Nag-isip ng mabuti ang lalaki kung ano ang kanyang gagawin sa masakit na kapalarang sinapit mula sa nobya.

Nanghiram siya ng litrato ng iba't-ibang babae mula sa mga kaibigan, inilagay ito sa kahon at sinamahan ng isang sulat na nagsasabing:

"Hindi ko matandaan ang itsura mo. Piliin mo na lang sa mga litratong nandito kung sino ka. Paki-balik na lamang ang iba."

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate! Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger. I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice. Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know. Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me. Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine. And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures. As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever! --by Gregory M. Lousig-Nont

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds-his name is the Lord-and rejoice before him." Psalm 68:3-4 NIV

I'm not sure if you did this one before, but it's cute.


Chocolate Personality Test

No cheating. Pick your chocolate, then look to see.

Take this chocolate personality test, then send this e-mail on to others. When you send this e-mail on, put your candy bar in the subject box above. Also, send it back to the person who sent it to you!

If you were buying candy and you had your choice of the following, which would you choose?

BABY RUTH
3 MUSKETEERS
BUTTERFINGERS
SNICKERS
HERSHEY'S
ALMOND JOY
CLARK BAR
GOOD 'n' PLENTY
ENERGY BAR
CHOCOLATE COATED RAISINS

OK - Now that you've made your choice, this is what research says about you!

NO....you can't change your mind once you scroll down! So think carefully, what your choice will be!!!


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BABY RUTH ..................Sweet, loving, cuddly. You love all warm fuzzy items. A little nutty. Sometimes you need an ice cream cone at the end of the day.

3 MUSKETEERS ............You are adventurous, love new ideas, are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons. When tempers flare up, you whip out your saber.

BUTTERFINGER .............Smooth, sexy, articulate with your hands, you are an excellent after-dinner speaker and a good teacher. But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time.

SNICKERS .....................Fun-loving, sassy, humorous. Everyone enjoys being around you, but you are a practical joker. Others should be cautious in shaking hands, however, you are a friend for life.

HERSHEY'S ..................Romantic, warm, loving. You care about other people and can be counted on in a pinch. You tend to melt.

ALMOND JOY ...............Sexy, always ready to give and receive, very energetic, and really likes to get into life. The opposite sex is always attracted to you.

CLARK BAR .................You like sports, whether baseball, football, basketball, or soccer. If you could, you would like to participate, but enjoy watching sports. You don't like to give up the remote control.

GOOD 'n' PLENTY..........You are a very fun loving person, who likes to laugh. You are fun to be with. People like to hang out with you. You are a very warm hearted person.

ENERGY BAR ...............Life is passing you by. Get a life! Go eat a plum.

CHOCOLATE COATED RAISINS ......You go to the bathroom often.

There was a case in one hospital's Intensive Care ward where patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning, at about 11 a.m., regardless of their medical condition.

This puzzled the doctors and some even thought that it had something to do with the supernatural. No one could solve the mystery..... as to why the deaths occurred around 11 a.m. on Sundays. So a World-Wide team of experts was assembled to investigate the cause of the incidents.

The next Sunday morning, a few minutes before 11 a.m., all doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books and other holy objects to ward off the evil spirits.

Just when the clock struck 11.......................
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Pookie Johnson, the part-time Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so that he could use the vacuum cleaner.

Question 1

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?

Read the next question before looking at the answer for this one.

Question 2

It is time to elect a new work leader, and your vote counts Here are the facts about the three leading candidate.

Candidate A:
Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologist. He's had two Mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B:
He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C:
He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and hasn't had any extramarital affairs.

Which of these candidates would be your choice?

Decide first, no peeking, then scroll down for the answer.
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Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Candidate B is Winston Churchill.

Candidate C is Adolph Hitler


And, by the way, the answer to the abortion question...If you said yes, you just killed Beethoven.

Pretty interesting isn't it? It should make a person think before judging someone.

Never be afraid to try exploring the possibilities of an unpopular view.

Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.

Little Margaret was not the best student in Sunday School. Usually she slept through the class. One day her teacher, a Nun, called on her while she was napping, "Tell me, Margaret, who created the Universe?"

When Margaret didn't stir, little Johnny, an altruistic boy seated in the chair behind her, took a pin and jabbed her in the rear.

"God Almighty!" shouted Margaret and the Nun said "Very Good," and Margaret fell back asleep. A while later the Nun asked Margaret, "Who is our Lord and Savior?"

But Margaret didn't even stir from her slumber. Once again, little Johnny came to the rescue and stuck her again.

"Jesus Christ!" shouted Margaret and the Nun said "Very Good" and Margaret fell back asleep.

Then the Nun asked Margaret a third question. "What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?"

Again Johnny came to the rescue. This time, Margaret jumped up and shouted, "If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I'll break it in half!

The Nun fainted.

An old guy approaches the window of the movie theatre with a chicken on his shoulder, and asks for 2 tickets. The girl at the counter wants to know who is going in with him. He replies, "Well, my pet chicken, of course!"

The girl tells him that he CAN'T take a chicken into the theatre, so he goes around the corner, and stuffs the chicken into his pants. He returns to the window, buys his ticket and goes in.

Inside the theatre, the chicken starts to get hot and begins to squirm, so the man unzips his pants so the chicken can stick it's head out and watch the movie. Sitting next to him is Susan. She elbows Lucy and whispers, "Lucy, this man over here has just unzipped his pants!"

Lucy whispers back, "Oh, don't worry about it ... you've seen one, you've seen them all."

Susan says, "I KNOW ... but this one's eating my POPCORN!!"

An airplane is about to crash; there were 5 passengers but only 4 parachutes .

The first passenger said: "I am Tiger Woods, world's leading golfer. I could still contribute to the game and I feel I should live." He grabbed the first pack and jumped off.

The second passenger, Oprah, declared: " I could still give pleasure to millions of TV audience and am not ready to die. "She took the second parachute and left the plane.

The third passenger announces: "I am Fernando Poe Jr, da Action King in Filipino movies. I will be the next president of the Philippines and I must survive." He took a nearby pack and jumped out of the plane.

The fourth passenger is the Pope and told the fifth passenger, a young Filipino boy aged 12: "I am old and sickly, I have had a full life and am willing to sacrifice. Go and get the last parachute so you will save your life."

The boy answered: "Do not worry Good Father, there's a parachute left for you. Da Action King has taken my school backpack!"

A married man goes to confessional and tells the priest, "I almost had an affair with a woman."

The priest asks, "What do you mean, almost?"

"Well, we got undressed and rubbed together, but then I stopped."

The priest replies, "Rubbing together is the same as putting it in. You're not to go near that woman again. Now, say five Hail Mary’s and put $50 in the poor box."

The man leaves confessional, says his prayers, and then walks over to the poor box. He pauses for a moment and then starts to leave.

The priest quickly runs over to him and says, "I saw that. You didn't put any money in the poor box!"

"Well, Father, I rubbed up against it and you said it was the same as putting it in."


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A husband and wife were sitting at the kitchen table one day, when suddenly, the wife got up, picked up a frying pan, and whacked her husband on the head. "Owww! What the hell was that for?" he asked.

"That's for being such a lousy lover!" she replied.

The husband sat there for a while, then reached over, took the frying pan from his wife, and smacked her a good one. "Ouch! What was that for?", she yelled.

"THAT was for being able to tell the difference!"


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A 13 year old kid comes home from school one day and walks up to his dad. "Dad, I have to tell the class tomorrow what the difference is between potential and reality. Can you help me?"

"Well son, I won't give you the answer but I'll help you out. Go ask you mom if she'd sleep with Brad Pitt for a million bucks, then go ask your sister and brother the same question." So the son shrugs and heads in to the kitchen.

"Hey mom...would you sleep with Brad Pit for a million bucks?" His mom looks around to make sure her husband isn't around. "Yes, I think I would." He writes down her comments in his little book and takes off to his sisters room.

Once he gets there, he bangs on the door.. and asks her the same question. "Oh my God...YES YES YES...blah blah blah...." she says. So, he shuts the door, writes in his book, and takes off down stairs to his brothers room and bangs on the door. He asks him the same thing.

"For a million bucks? What the hell, sure." he answers. The kid stares at his brother and takes off to the living room and thinks about things for an hour. Finally, things click.....

"Dad, I figured out the difference between potential and reality."

"What did you learn son?"

"Well, potentially we're sitting on 3 million bucks, but in reality, we're living with two sluts and a fag!"