The Hangover Cure (THC) is a powdered drink mix billed as "The World's First Extreme Hangover Cure" and made in the United States. It is sold in 0.4 oz vials. The creators of the drink mix, Dallas-based Apollo Nutrition LLC, claim the powder drink mix's ingredients, like L-Cysteine and other vitamins, will help prevent a hangover if consumed with water before bed.
Marketing
Thrillist has hailed The Hangover Cure's irreverent marketing campaigns and usage of Twitter customer testimonials as "revolutionary".
Reference to Marijuana
Though not overtly stated by the company, pundits often point out the ironic usage of the name "THC" given its reference to tetrahydrocannabinol and marijuana culture.
Marketing
Thrillist has hailed The Hangover Cure's irreverent marketing campaigns and usage of Twitter customer testimonials as "revolutionary".
Reference to Marijuana
Though not overtly stated by the company, pundits often point out the ironic usage of the name "THC" given its reference to tetrahydrocannabinol and marijuana culture.
Stuart Atkinson (also known as Stewart Atkinson and Stu Atkinson) is a British video game designer and a former Core Design/Eidos Interactive employee.
His most well-known work was as a designer and lead animator for Tomb Raider II (replacing the first game's crator Toby Gard, who had disagreed with the idea about marketing Lara's sex appeal), where he gave Lara Croft her later-iconic free-flowing pony tail, a smoother appearance, and for first time several different outfits.
His other work included Curse of Enchantia (sprites, together with his brother Billy Allison), Universe (sprites), Tomb Raider (artwork), ' (design and artwork) and Project Eden (human animation and models).
His most well-known work was as a designer and lead animator for Tomb Raider II (replacing the first game's crator Toby Gard, who had disagreed with the idea about marketing Lara's sex appeal), where he gave Lara Croft her later-iconic free-flowing pony tail, a smoother appearance, and for first time several different outfits.
His other work included Curse of Enchantia (sprites, together with his brother Billy Allison), Universe (sprites), Tomb Raider (artwork), ' (design and artwork) and Project Eden (human animation and models).
Dionisia Pacquiao is the mother of "National Fist" Manny Pacquiao.
Early Life
Born Dionisia Dapidran on May 15, 1949 in Saranggani.
Personal Life
He was married by Rosalio Pacquiao from Saranggani.
New Love?
Asked about her own love life, Mrs. Pacquiao said she has many suitors but does not want to entertain them just yet.
Instead of going on dates with her suitors, she said she focuses on her family, grandchildren, and ballroom dancing.
"Andyan ang pagmamahal ko sa dancing. Ayoko na, hindi ko na maulit 'yong masaktan pa ang puso ko. ," she told "The Buzz."
Mrs. Pacquiao recently wrapped a film called "Ang Tanging Pamilya." She co-starred with former president Joseph Estrada, Ai Ai delas Alas, and Sam Milby.
Color Coordinated
To match her purple dress, Dionisia had her nails done in mauve polish a day prior to the party. However, she had to have her nails re-painted on Thursday since the polish had chipped.
Purple is reportedly Dionisia Pacquiao's favorite color.
To complete her party outfit, Pacquiao's mom bought herself a black clutch at the GenSan mall. She patiently posed for pictures with fans while shopping.
She also bought flesh-toned stockings to match her ball gown instead of white stockings.
She seemingly followed the advice of a fashion critic and entertainment journalist who recently ranked her among the "10 Worst Celebrity Outfits of 2009" on lifestyle website Spot.PH.
Entertainment writer Melissa Andrea de Quiros and professional fashion stylist Leona Laviña-Panutat had critiqued Dionisia's outfit during her debut-themed 60th birthday party last May.
For a ballroom dance number on that occasion, Dionisia Pacquiao had worn an eggplant-colored satin cocktail dress, white stockings, and lilac heels.
Worst Dressed?
De Quiros said the cocktail dress Dionisia wore at her 60th birthday party this year was "beautiful" but was ruined by the white stockings and pastel-colored dancing shoes.
Panutat was less forgiving, however, about what she described as a "god-awful dress" and "a bridesmaid's dress from hell."
She claimed the dress did not do Dionisia Pacquiao justice.
"It makes you look like a woman trying too hard to regain her youth. I would change the spaghetti straps into thicker ones, maybe make the neck line into a Sabrina cut and get rid of the rhinestone brooch," Panutat wrote.
"I would also replace the white stockings with flesh colored ones and the shoes with black or gold dancing pumps. The effect would be fun yet sophisticated and definitely age-appropriate," the stylist said.
True enough, Dionisia's outfit at her son's 31st birthday party seemingly reflected Panutat's advice: a boat-neck, knee-length embellished gown; flesh-colored stockings; and black sandals.
Early Life
Born Dionisia Dapidran on May 15, 1949 in Saranggani.
Personal Life
He was married by Rosalio Pacquiao from Saranggani.
New Love?
Asked about her own love life, Mrs. Pacquiao said she has many suitors but does not want to entertain them just yet.
Instead of going on dates with her suitors, she said she focuses on her family, grandchildren, and ballroom dancing.
"Andyan ang pagmamahal ko sa dancing. Ayoko na, hindi ko na maulit 'yong masaktan pa ang puso ko. ," she told "The Buzz."
Mrs. Pacquiao recently wrapped a film called "Ang Tanging Pamilya." She co-starred with former president Joseph Estrada, Ai Ai delas Alas, and Sam Milby.
Color Coordinated
To match her purple dress, Dionisia had her nails done in mauve polish a day prior to the party. However, she had to have her nails re-painted on Thursday since the polish had chipped.
Purple is reportedly Dionisia Pacquiao's favorite color.
To complete her party outfit, Pacquiao's mom bought herself a black clutch at the GenSan mall. She patiently posed for pictures with fans while shopping.
She also bought flesh-toned stockings to match her ball gown instead of white stockings.
She seemingly followed the advice of a fashion critic and entertainment journalist who recently ranked her among the "10 Worst Celebrity Outfits of 2009" on lifestyle website Spot.PH.
Entertainment writer Melissa Andrea de Quiros and professional fashion stylist Leona Laviña-Panutat had critiqued Dionisia's outfit during her debut-themed 60th birthday party last May.
For a ballroom dance number on that occasion, Dionisia Pacquiao had worn an eggplant-colored satin cocktail dress, white stockings, and lilac heels.
Worst Dressed?
De Quiros said the cocktail dress Dionisia wore at her 60th birthday party this year was "beautiful" but was ruined by the white stockings and pastel-colored dancing shoes.
Panutat was less forgiving, however, about what she described as a "god-awful dress" and "a bridesmaid's dress from hell."
She claimed the dress did not do Dionisia Pacquiao justice.
"It makes you look like a woman trying too hard to regain her youth. I would change the spaghetti straps into thicker ones, maybe make the neck line into a Sabrina cut and get rid of the rhinestone brooch," Panutat wrote.
"I would also replace the white stockings with flesh colored ones and the shoes with black or gold dancing pumps. The effect would be fun yet sophisticated and definitely age-appropriate," the stylist said.
True enough, Dionisia's outfit at her son's 31st birthday party seemingly reflected Panutat's advice: a boat-neck, knee-length embellished gown; flesh-colored stockings; and black sandals.
The interciy bus system in Ecuador is made up of hundreds of bus cooperatives and companies, each with its base and hub in a particular city or town. Main routes between big cities and along the Panamerican highway are served by many different cooperatives and companies, with buses passing every few minutes or less. Smaller towns and villages father afield may be served by just one, with one or two buses per day. See www.ecuadorbuses.com for maps, schedules and phone numbers for all the intercity and suburban buses.
Where to Catch Inter-City Buses
Although the buses generally leave from stations or major bus stops, they pick up passengers virtually anywhere along their route. In large part, this is because generally each bus is individually owned and operated. Each passenger that boards means more money for the bus driver (who sometimes is the owner himself) and the helper (who charges passengers and collects tickets from those who have them). This is why the buses compete against eachother on the road, and why buses will often pack the aisles if they can. Buses that are part of a large bus company, rather than a bus cooperative, generally will not pick up passengers on the road or pack ém in so much, since the driver and helper are just on salary, and the company owns all the buses.
In the very big cities, inter-city buses have been restricted by the police in picking up passengers within the urban zone after leaving the bus terminal, so buses often can't pick up passengers until they have reached the highway, with the possible exception of a couple key intersections.
Many cities recently have renovated or replaced their old bus stations with remarkably modern ones, or are currently do so.
Within the past year, Quito replaced its one central bus station, with a combination of two: a big new one in the far south of the city, called Terminal Quitumbe, and a smaller one in the far north, called Terminal Carcelén. Most of the intercity buses, the ones leaving on routes to the south, to the coast, and to the Amazon region, leave from Quitumbe. The much smaller number of buses that leave the city going north (to Otavalo, Ibarra and Tulcan for example), and northwest (toward Los Bancos), generally leave from Carcelén (although some start in the south at Quitumbe, then stop at Carcelén). There is a another small terminal in the north, called Ofelia, the last stop of the Metrovía, which is used by the main bus company to Mindo, called Coop. Flor del Valle. For more info on Quito terminals, click here.
So, although the new Quito bus terminals are nicer than the old ones, you have to know from which terminal your bus leaves from. You can ask around, check the www.EcuadorBuses.com, or call the particular bus co. (you can get numbers from that website). Also, if you are staying in the touristy Mariscal area, or "New Town," the taxi ride to the bus station that used to cost $2-$3, now costs $6-$10, and depending on traffic, can take 30-60 minutes to get there. There are a few (and growing number) of bus coops and companies who have their own little terminals near the Mariscal area, which makes traveling out of Quito a lot easier, but they are limited and the buses often stop at the main terminal as well. Included in these companies are Panamericana, Trans Esmeraldas, Transportes Ecuador, Occidentales, Flota Imbabura, TAC, and Coactur.
In Guayaquil, there is still one main bus station (www.terminalguayaquil.com), in the same place as the old one (next to the airport). And the new building is basically a shopping mall, with stores, banks and restaurants. And it is just as clean.
Tickets & Costs
Currently, to buy inter-city bus tickets, you have to go to the main bus terminal or, for those companies that have them, their small private terminals -- or you can just get on the bus (either on the road or in the smaller-city terminales that don't make you buy a ticket before boarding). At this point, there is no way to pay over the phone with a credit card; it's just first-come, first-served at the ticket window.
Inter-city buses generally cost about $1 per hour of travel time. The fares are pretty much the same whether you have to stand in the aisle in a junker bus, or if you get a luxury "seat-bed" in a brand new bus.
Safety
Generally, intercity buses are safe -- on a particular trip, chances are, you will not be robbed or injured in any way. However, especially if you don't keep tabs on your belongings, once in awhile you may find a carry-on stolen, or objects stolen from bags. This largely can be avoided by not putting anything on the overhead racks or under your seat. If you keep small bags and daypacks on your lap, or in an empty seat next to you, with your arm on top, holding a strap, you're not likely to lose them. Large bags and backpacks are generally safe under the bus, but you might try to sit on the same side of the bus to keep an eye out whenever the compartment is opened during the trip.
Getting physically robbed or assaulted is very rare on inter-city buses, but most cases happen on night buses in the coastal region. So, night and evening buses to, from, or within this region should be avoided. Also, especially for women traveling alone, you may want to try to avoid sitting in the very back seats, on general principle. Also, it is very important not to accept food or drinks from other passengers. Although they are most likely just being polite and friendly, there have been many cases in which even seemingly sealed containers have been drugged, and the victim wakes up later to find all his/her possessions taken, or worse.
Traffic accidents involving inter-city buses aren´t common, but do happen. Again, avoiding night buses may help you avoid accidents. And, not sitting in the very front, next to the bus driver, will help you avoid injury in case of an accident.
Conclusion
Ecuador's inter-city buses are an extremely cheap, generally safe, more-or-less convenient, and sometimes comfortable means of travel. Although the bus system may seem chaotic compared to those of the US and Europe, Ecuador's terminals, buses and roads have improved incredibly over the past 5 or 10 years. By taking a few common-sense precautions, travelers can travel very safely and take many enjoyable, memorable trips to all parts of the country.
Where to Catch Inter-City Buses
Although the buses generally leave from stations or major bus stops, they pick up passengers virtually anywhere along their route. In large part, this is because generally each bus is individually owned and operated. Each passenger that boards means more money for the bus driver (who sometimes is the owner himself) and the helper (who charges passengers and collects tickets from those who have them). This is why the buses compete against eachother on the road, and why buses will often pack the aisles if they can. Buses that are part of a large bus company, rather than a bus cooperative, generally will not pick up passengers on the road or pack ém in so much, since the driver and helper are just on salary, and the company owns all the buses.
In the very big cities, inter-city buses have been restricted by the police in picking up passengers within the urban zone after leaving the bus terminal, so buses often can't pick up passengers until they have reached the highway, with the possible exception of a couple key intersections.
Many cities recently have renovated or replaced their old bus stations with remarkably modern ones, or are currently do so.
Within the past year, Quito replaced its one central bus station, with a combination of two: a big new one in the far south of the city, called Terminal Quitumbe, and a smaller one in the far north, called Terminal Carcelén. Most of the intercity buses, the ones leaving on routes to the south, to the coast, and to the Amazon region, leave from Quitumbe. The much smaller number of buses that leave the city going north (to Otavalo, Ibarra and Tulcan for example), and northwest (toward Los Bancos), generally leave from Carcelén (although some start in the south at Quitumbe, then stop at Carcelén). There is a another small terminal in the north, called Ofelia, the last stop of the Metrovía, which is used by the main bus company to Mindo, called Coop. Flor del Valle. For more info on Quito terminals, click here.
So, although the new Quito bus terminals are nicer than the old ones, you have to know from which terminal your bus leaves from. You can ask around, check the www.EcuadorBuses.com, or call the particular bus co. (you can get numbers from that website). Also, if you are staying in the touristy Mariscal area, or "New Town," the taxi ride to the bus station that used to cost $2-$3, now costs $6-$10, and depending on traffic, can take 30-60 minutes to get there. There are a few (and growing number) of bus coops and companies who have their own little terminals near the Mariscal area, which makes traveling out of Quito a lot easier, but they are limited and the buses often stop at the main terminal as well. Included in these companies are Panamericana, Trans Esmeraldas, Transportes Ecuador, Occidentales, Flota Imbabura, TAC, and Coactur.
In Guayaquil, there is still one main bus station (www.terminalguayaquil.com), in the same place as the old one (next to the airport). And the new building is basically a shopping mall, with stores, banks and restaurants. And it is just as clean.
Tickets & Costs
Currently, to buy inter-city bus tickets, you have to go to the main bus terminal or, for those companies that have them, their small private terminals -- or you can just get on the bus (either on the road or in the smaller-city terminales that don't make you buy a ticket before boarding). At this point, there is no way to pay over the phone with a credit card; it's just first-come, first-served at the ticket window.
Inter-city buses generally cost about $1 per hour of travel time. The fares are pretty much the same whether you have to stand in the aisle in a junker bus, or if you get a luxury "seat-bed" in a brand new bus.
Safety
Generally, intercity buses are safe -- on a particular trip, chances are, you will not be robbed or injured in any way. However, especially if you don't keep tabs on your belongings, once in awhile you may find a carry-on stolen, or objects stolen from bags. This largely can be avoided by not putting anything on the overhead racks or under your seat. If you keep small bags and daypacks on your lap, or in an empty seat next to you, with your arm on top, holding a strap, you're not likely to lose them. Large bags and backpacks are generally safe under the bus, but you might try to sit on the same side of the bus to keep an eye out whenever the compartment is opened during the trip.
Getting physically robbed or assaulted is very rare on inter-city buses, but most cases happen on night buses in the coastal region. So, night and evening buses to, from, or within this region should be avoided. Also, especially for women traveling alone, you may want to try to avoid sitting in the very back seats, on general principle. Also, it is very important not to accept food or drinks from other passengers. Although they are most likely just being polite and friendly, there have been many cases in which even seemingly sealed containers have been drugged, and the victim wakes up later to find all his/her possessions taken, or worse.
Traffic accidents involving inter-city buses aren´t common, but do happen. Again, avoiding night buses may help you avoid accidents. And, not sitting in the very front, next to the bus driver, will help you avoid injury in case of an accident.
Conclusion
Ecuador's inter-city buses are an extremely cheap, generally safe, more-or-less convenient, and sometimes comfortable means of travel. Although the bus system may seem chaotic compared to those of the US and Europe, Ecuador's terminals, buses and roads have improved incredibly over the past 5 or 10 years. By taking a few common-sense precautions, travelers can travel very safely and take many enjoyable, memorable trips to all parts of the country.