Before And After
POSTED AT 09:07 AM in Reading for substance

 

It was actually a story of a normal family. The characters: a father (Ben), a mother (Carolyn), a son (Jacob) and a daughter (Judith). Set in a small, quiet and not so busy town in New England, the story revolves around the simple, not so ideal, yet all-so familiar lives of the four Reisers which all came to a shattering nightmare after a blond teenage girl was found budgeoned to death.

The crime, which was sensationally called as the year's crime of passion and profound intrigue, changed the lives of the family members forever. The book shows what and how they were before and after the crime.

I never really liked the thought that the murderer was able to get away with his crime. It's just a pain to realize that justice wasn't serve. But then, the family person in me wanted to give him another chance in life... It was just.. UNFAIR though. But life is never fair, it never was, it never will.

After reading the book, I find myself caught among different thoughts: Will I be like Ben, who's love for his son came above and beyond the law? Will I be like Carolyn, who will be suffering all the guilt, who will feel pain for other people more than for my own son? Will I be like Judith, who always see things as black as white, a sin is a sin and therefore should not go unpunished?

Sigh... so many things to consider. One thing is for sure though... I learned just how difficult it is to stay good when your loveones do the bad things. Also, I realized the impact of having my own children to raise, God! How difficult it is to raise your own family. I now see my Papa in a different shade. I now understand things that I never understand nor try to understand before. I realize how lucky I am to become my Mama's daughter as well . She who struggled between right and wrong, yet never ceases to show just how much she loves me. It's certainly a difficult balance but somehow my parents were able to tip the scale once and for all...

Thanks Rosellen Brown for this beautiful and realistic portrayal of family attitude and loyalty on their struggle for survival and keeping the things as they were before, after something unforgivable has happened...

Go get your own copy now, read the book, get lazy.... Or you can watch the movie (starring Meryl Streep, Liam Neeson and Edward Furlong.

It's a great way to relax & learn...

Reading: Before and After on Rotten Tomatoes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1070061-before_and_after/)
Listening to: Family by Dreamgirls
Feeling: contemplative

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Blog To Profit
POSTED AT 11:26 AM in My Life and what's left of it...

Eyy! I promise this is about my life!

 

You see, I've been posting in discussion forums for years now, even had more than a hundred posts in mylot.com (visit my space here: maplekisses). I never gave any attention in earning through blogging or posting since I enjoy the discussions so much that I never really gave a damn about money . Anyways, I never thought it's true and that you'll really earn from those blahs.

 

Well, here I am, working for an SEO company in the Philippines and I was assigned a job to evaluate blogs and pay those bloggers every week! So this is true eh? There is indeed money in blogging. Yippeee!

 

So if I were you activate your blogs now and enroll to our system at BlogToProfit.com (I promise I'll be very nice in evaluating your blogs).

 

The rules are pretty easy guys, they are as follows:

On Registration

1. The blog must be at least 3 months old with quality content and updated at least twice per week.

2. A BTOP administrator may approve or decline your account or blog post for any reason. It is the sole discretion of the administrator. Bloggers with blogs below the requirements may not be notified about the declined blog.

3. Bloggers will be notified only for approved blogs. Blogs that are not qualified yet may be re-evaluated after 2 months.

4. You may only apply for a BToP blogger account with a root domain. e.g. http://www.domain.com. You can not use http://www.domain.com/myblog, however you can use subdomains e.g. http://myblog.domain.com

5. Blogs should have a clear permalink structure.

6. Blogs with expiring domains may likely be rejected.

7. Bloggers are paid for the approved blog posts on a weekly basis, through Paypal or through the mode of Payment specified in the blogger’s account.

On Link Assignments

1. You will be assigned a batch of links by a BToP administrator based on the categories that you agreed upon sign-up. You may change the preferred categories at any time before a batch of task is given.

2. Once a batch of order has been assigned to your blog, you have up to 120 hrs to complete and submit the post before it will be re-assigned to another blogger.

3. You should accurately post a link and its anchor text verbatim within your blog post, at one link per post only.

4. The link should be in context, found in the main body of a relevant blog post.

5. Content must be creative and original. You should not copy more than one sentence from any portion of text from the advertiser’s website, doing so may get you banned from BTOP.

6. There is a minimum requirement of 150 words for blog entry approval.

7. Your blog post must appear either as one of the recent blog entries on your home page, or be a clear link accessible from your blog. Posts may be rejected if they can not be easily found from your blog.

8. Your blog post must remain live for at least 12 months and be accessible through the submtted permanent link at anytime within the agreed period. Bloggers who remove posts after being paid and before the term mentioned above ends will no longer receive sponsorship opportunities and may be banned from BToP.

9. Anchor texts with backlinks to advertiser must not contain “no follow” tags.

10. Posts from BTOP should not be posted into one category like “sponsored”, “paid posts”, “ads”, “advertisements”, “earn from blog” and other similar categories.

For queries and account concerns, write to btopinfo@blogtoprofit.com (that's me!)

 See ya there guys...

Reading: A blogger's post... hmmm.. nice one
Listening to: Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey
Feeling: accomplished

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Count Thy Blessings
POSTED AT 12:55 PM in My Life and what's left of it...

I've always been a fighter; for me, giving up on something is a cardinal sin. I only fight for what I think is the best for everybody, not for myself alone but for the sake of all concern.

More than five years ago, I put up a fight. It was the most important fight of my life. Why? Because the result of which will determine the most important chapters of my life. I was forced to do something I do not want to do, to accept something I don't have enough idea of, to love and care for someone I don't really know that much, to enter a life of no return, to be forever doomed, to be forever miserable.

I put up a fight. Oh how I fought... all in vain. I lost the game. My dad won that one. I conceded defeat. I accepted my fate. But I accepted it with grace. Positively, I reasoned, I could always make my "losing" a "winning". So I started yet another fight.

I endeavored to be a good better-half. I gave up everything just to prove first to myself and to everybody that I can make life meaningful after a failure. I gave up my career, I gave up my dreams. I gave up my promises to the most important woman in my life. It wasn't enough. This time, I lost again. My ex-husband won that battle.

After almost two years of swimming in the lake of miseries and troubles, of self-pity and despair, of never-ending cries, of pains, of deaths over and over again... I dreamt of entering another game again, and this time, I wanted so much to win. I realized, this could be the final battle of my romantic life. I have to win this, and in so-doing I can erase all the losings that I had in the past. I got excited, thinking all along that I can do this, all I need is just a good plan.

So, three years ago, I started another fight... a fight for freedom and happiness. There were so many distractions, so many advocates of the devil who wants me turn to the other sides and take up another fight. I concentrated on my own game. I wanted to be free of all the pains. I didn't mind living a solitary life. I gave up on romantic illusions, on the hopes that someday, I'll be happy again in the arms of a suitable man. I just gave up on those romantic stuffs to win my own battle to freedom.

I can feel myself losing this one again. I'm so close to giving up, I'm not sure if I will be able to hold out anymore. Ending my life would be a faster route to ending the battle but still it's not winning... I'm tired of losing all the games of life. Yet, I'm not giving up, I have more than enough reasons to survive this battle. I just have to count my blessings and I'll come out as the winner soon.. real soon.

Reading: Another blogger's post .. .sigh
Listening to: Beautiful In My Eyes by Joshua Kadison
Feeling: determined

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I Love You, Goodbye
POSTED AT 07:54 AM in That's what you call Music

How many times have I loved and lost ?

How many times have I found myself singing that song? Innumerable times. Enough to make that song forever an essential part of my non-existing lovelife.

Many times, I found myself wishing that What I am, What I can offer, is enough for a man to truly love me and never leave me. Many times, I find myself hoping I could become The One, The Only One, The Only One a man ever needs to complete his life. Many times, I found myself aching to stay, to find a man who wants me to stay.

All of them, forever unreachable, unattainable... Futile wishes, vain hopes, eternal pains...

I can still hear myself singing that song again...

Wish I could be the one
The one who could give you love
The kind of love you really need
Wish I could say to you
That Ill always stay with you
But baby thats not me
You need someone willing to give their heart and soul to you
Promise you forever, baby thats something I cant do
Oh I could say that Ill be all you need
But that would be a lie
I know Id only hurt you
I know Id only make you cry
Im not the one youre needing
I love you, goodbye

I hope someday you can find some way to understand Im only doing this for you
I dont really wanna go
But deep in my heart I know this is the kindest thing to do
Youll find someone wholl be the one that I could never be
Wholl give you something better
Than the love youll find with me
Oh I could say that Ill be all you need
But that would be a crime
I know Id only hurt you
I know Id only make you cry
Im not the one youre needing
I love you, goodbye

Leaving someone when you love someone
Is the hardest thing to do
When you love someone as much as I love you

Oh I dont wanna leave you
Baby it tears me up inside
But Ill never be the one youre needing
I love you, goodbye

Baby, its never ganna work out
I love you, goodbye

 

I wanted to give my everything, my heart, my soul, my forever, but who wants it?

NOBODY...

 

 

Reading: my Mylot responses at www.mylot.com/maple_kisses
Listening to: I Love You Goodbye by Celine Dion
Feeling: crushed

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KANE and ABEL : GOLD versus STEEL
POSTED AT 09:50 AM in Reading for substance

I can still remember the day when I first took a look at the book. I made a face when my friend handed it over, telling me to take my time in reading since she’s not sure if she’s going to miss it at all. Whoa! She expects me to be interested in a book that bad? I asked her if she’d read it and her expression said it all. Of course not! She didn’t. The cover and the title looked uninteresting and boring. Then why buy it for God’s sake? She said it was given by a relative during a reunion. She doesn’t want to hurt her fragile feelings so she gracefully accepted.

Hmmmm… I’ve always been a believer of the cliché “Don’t judge the book by its cover.” Though I can’t say I blame her for being so negative. I mean, look at the original (I mean old) cover of the book! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The cover’s definitely not as classy and romantic as a Danielle Steel or a Judith McNaught. It didn’t even come close to the oh-so promising and mysterious cover of a Sidney Sheldon! But well, I’m always willing to give any book a try. Besides, the summary at the back seems… beckoning.

It turned out that the book’s “beckoning” look didn’t have much of an impact to me since I just left the book on my table and didn’t mind it for a week or so, always finding a plausible excuse not to read it. But after days of no good book to read, I decided to give it a try. I thought, hey! Everybody deserves a chance, even seemingly boring Mr. Archer here. Why not?

After reading the first page, I almost slapped myself. I can’t believe I fell for that “I’m boring, don’t read me” look! Me? I’m supposed to be good in figuring out a book’s quality! Am I losing my touch? Finally getting a grip of that stunning reality, I read the book from start to finish without even stopping for food. (I always eat while I read but I don’t think any food deserves my undivided attention.) It was my first time to finish a book in one sitting. (Oh, I changed positions on my bed, from sitting to lying down, to sitting again, but without taking my eyes on the book, ok?) I laughed out loud, cried in silence, and contemplated every now and then while reading. Wow! Definitely a good book, simply the best! And what a storyteller! The best ever! My most favorite author since that fateful day! I can’t even find words to describe a person who won’t enjoy the book. I mean, c’mon, Mr. Webster must have not yet coined a word for someone so dim-witted.

The story revolves on two men born worlds and poles apart with nil in common except for their natal day (15^th of April 1906) and their sheer determination to succeed in life. It has been a battle between gold and steel with Kane and Abel; the former so blindingly wealthy and influential, the latter so underprivileged and powerless. William Lowell Kane, a Boston Brahmin, lived with ease and prosperity; while Abel Rosnovski, a Pole immigrant, survived life with hardships and struggles. The golden boy and the man of steel – the other molded by a luxurious upbringing, exceptional schools and a history he enjoys to read about; while the other shaped by wars, slavery and a history he unreservedly takes part of. Between the two, only one must come out as a victor, and whoever he is depends on the reader’s mindset and acceptance of the realities in this world.

The story is indeed a good portrayal of a clash of principles and beliefs, of everything that the other stands against the other. Jeffrey Archer wonderfully put all the right ingredients in one book. One will surely learn a lot about almost everything – history, business, education, sports, banking, parenting, emotions, and life itself. You’ll definitely laugh and cry and feel each triumph of both men that you’ll find it hard to take a side. Jeffrey Archer certainly makes that part difficult to the readers, since he never goes beyond the facts of life. His characters are mere human beings with flaws as well as good virtues. 

I must admit after reading Archer’s work I realized just how dull my writing are (I have been trying to finish some stories myself). My best friend and I agreed that Jeffrey Archer’s genius in writing is unsurpassable. Kane and Abel is definitely a collector’s item and I cannot forgive myself if I ever forget to share it to my future kids.

Get your own copy now. It will not be rated 4.5/5 stars in amazon.com for nothing. I guarantee a good read; you’ll know it on the first two sentences.

Listening to: Better Off Alone by Avril Lavigne
Feeling: indescribable

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Differences
POSTED AT 07:02 AM in My Life and what's left of it...

I had a field day at Mylot today. You see, I responded to a certain discussion there yesterday. My reply (which was the 22nd response in the thread) was a very simple and truthful reply. It got me the "Best Response" award however and I was rather surprised. I knew I wrote clearly and direct to the point but I was against the odds. I mean the question was about a guy who caught his girlfriend cheating on him and slapped her; was it justifiable to hurt the woman or not?

Almost all answers were of course it was not justifiable. Nobody deserves the right to hurt someone else and I agree with them. My reply however is telling everybody that what the guy did has a reason and it made one Mylot member irritated, she accused me of being an advocate of violence. Me? A battered wife? I condone violence? Gee! That's rather funny, but well, it's her opinion anyway. I've pasted the discussion below. Feel free to comment will you?

JUSTIFIABLE OR NOT?

crazyoverpurple (521)   ranked 1,091 out of 16,532 in relationships 1 day ago

Here's the scenario: A guy and his girlfriend attended a party at friend's house. A few hours into the party, the girlfriend went a-missing. The boyfriend searched frantically for her and finally found her in the backyard under one of the trees there. But here's the big surprise: the girlfriend was NOT alone! In fact, the boyfriend found her in a most compromising situation: she was liplocked with another guy! The boyfriend, very much hurt by what he saw, walked up to the kissing couple and without a word, slapped the girlfriend. They have broken up since then. Now my question is, was the guys reaction and consequent action justifiable or not? Was his reason for hitting the girl valid? Personally, I think what he did was a natural human reaction. After all, he's only human. But I could be wrong. His girlfriend was also human, right? A human who is prone to make mistakes. So what do you think? Please share your two cents'.

22. maple_kisses (354)   ranked 507 out of 16,532 in relationships   16 hours ago Hmmm, it's like a movie scene. Well, let me quote a sentence or two from a book that I recently finished, it goes like this: "When Jonah was angry at God for killing the little gourd plant that gave him shade in the desert, God told Him he had no right to be angry by saying - You didn't raise it and love it as I did" This means you can't pass judgment on what another person feel like, no one can know what love and caring feel like to to someone else and what lengths they will go for that love. I guess, the guy just acted on the kind of love that he felt for the girl. It was violent and it seemed wrong. Yet, it was a normal reaction to an action done. It's like what Newton teaches us, something like, in every action there's always an opposite and equal reaction. It was painful for the guy, the normal and equal reaction would be to inflict pain. I'm a woman, but I say, I feel for the guy rather than the gal. Emotional pain is always more difficult to handle and to cure than the physical. One thing more, the gal might have destroyed the guy's faith in love and it'll scar him for the rest of his life. The gal, well, she betrayed a guy once, she's more likely to do it again.. Oh well, this is life.

crazyoverpurple (521)   ranked 1,091 out of 16,532 in relationships  15 hours ago Very well said! As one saying goes, "Time heals all wounds". But I guess in this situation that applies to the physical pain the girl felt when the guy slapped her. As for the emotional scar that the guy endured and may still be enduring, it will definitely take a while (if at all possible) before he gets over it. Thanks for responding! + - !

maple_kisses (354)   ranked 507 out of 16,532 in relationships  15 hours ago Oh, you're welcome... Seen the situation with a friend before, my friend cheated on her boyfriend and he hurt her in return. I just saw the situation clearly... Thanks for the "Best Response".

crazyoverpurple (521)   ranked 1,091 out of 16,532 in relationships  15 hours ago You deserved it! + - !

Ciniful (1104)   ranked 2,600 out of 16,532 in relationships  9 hours ago And people like this, who continue to condone violence, are the reason we'll never stop it. You see it as 'just a slap' because he was angry. How is that any different than the man who abuses his wife, because he was angry? It's a reaction to his feelings, so that makes it alright? It's absolutely heartbreaking to see people continue to push violence by condoning it. People like the both of you, by making excuses for it, are partially to to blame for the next woman who earns herself black eyes when her husband has a bad day. You allow and encourage the behavior by defending it, even in the smallest of instances. Whether he was hurt or not is not an excuse to assault someone. People get hurt all the time, no one is exempt. Should we all go and hit the people who make us angry? Yep, that'll solve everything. Bottom line. The girl cheated on him, the guy assaulted the girl. Why is his action excused while hers isn't? Says a lot about your thinking, doesn't it? + - !

maple_kisses (354)   ranked 507 out of 16,532 in relationships  1 second ago Hi there, it saddens me to know that you are somewhat irritated with my response. You should know however that everybody's entitled to his/her own opinion. I respect what you believe, the least you can do is respect mine. I am not an advocate of violence. Maybe you don't know what it is to live in violence but I was a battered wife 5 years ago, I had it all, punches, slaps and was even thrown at the door by my ex-husband. He was violent to the T and he never have the right to do such crime to me because he was never there when my Mom and Dad nurtured me from conception to my 21st year in earth. No, you had it wrong when you accused me of advocating violence, that is such a laughable accusation. However, we live in a world of reasons and varieties. What might be reasonable to one isn't reasonable to someone else. My drunk husband might find it reasonable to hurt me because he wants to, I found no reason at all except that he's violent and a gay for hurting a woman. Nope, we don't know every reason in every person's mind but you have no right anyway to judge a person's action. Sigh, this is just a proof that we can't please everybody. What pleases the owner of this discussion won't please other members... It's ok, I understand, I respect your point of view and I admire you for taking a stand. God bless...

Well, that's it. I'm still waiting for the gurl's reply and if she will, I'll post it here for you to read...

Listening to: Touch My Body by Mariah Carey
Feeling: amused

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I'll Never Love This Way Again
POSTED AT 09:44 AM in My Life and what's left of it..., That's what you call Music, Writing for sanity's sake

No, he wasn't my first relationship. I never even met him in person yet. Haven't had the opportunity to touch him, to be near him, to feel him. He isn't the most handsome guy on earth either, nor the most virtuous guy ever alive. Yet, he can do things to me that no one else can... and for him, I dedicate one special song, a song that sings of my lasting love for him, a song that describes just how important he has been and will always be, in my life, a song that will remind me that there's only one man, only one man, who'll I'll love this way....

 I’ll Never Love This Way Again

And for him I created a poem. I gave the poem to him and had hoped he'll treasure it as long as he lives even if he doesn't want me in his life anymore...

Love's Promise

are and precious, you are one of a kind,
adiant light in this lonesome life of mine.

nce I was scared once I was broken,
h but my darling, you came down from heaven.

od-sent angel, you soothed my weary heart
ently and sweetly, you vowed we'll never part.

very word you said, every promise you uttered,
nded all my sorrows and warmed me all over.

ainbow of colors you showered in my life,
eflecting your great love through joy and through strife.
 

y love, I can never find another you,
y life will be hollow and worthless without you.

ou and only you can bring out the best in me
our sweetest love makes me happy and free.
 

oving you is exciting, oh so delighting!
ike a wonderful dream that doesn't have an ending.

ver and over, I'll give my heart to you,
nce and for always, I'll be faithful to you.

ague may be the future, we're certain of what's ahead,
erily it's clear, in one heart, we will wed.

cstasy! Rapture! Our lives will be filled with bliss,
ven in times of sorrow, we'll be the best there is...

 

Wherever you are, you're always loved...

Listening to: I'll Never Love This Way Again by Dionne Warwick
Feeling: contemplative

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Music Personality Test
POSTED AT 11:32 AM in That's what you call Music

I took a Music Personality Test from a Personality Test website just for the fun of it. Well, surprise! surprise! I kinda liked the result because it's almost 100% true so I'm sharing it to you now..

Took the test @ http://www.outofservice.com/music-personality-test/ and the result? Drum roll please....

Here's what your music says about your personality! Your music preferences have been broken down into four categories. Detailed explanations are below.

	96 %	enjoys reflective and complex music
	33 %	enjoys edgy and aggressive music
	94 %	enjoys fun and simple music
	75 %	enjoys energetic and upbeat music

These dimensions are relatively independent, which means that you can be high on one dimension and low on others, or high on all of them, or low on all of them, etc.

Your score will tell you whether you are high or low on each dimension. The characteristics associated with high or low scorers on each dimensions are described below. If you are especially high or low on a dimension, these descriptions should be particularly characteristic of you. If you fall somewhere in the middle, the descriptions probably characterize you less well. For example, if you have a moderate score on the reflective and complex music dimension then you would probably be quite high in openness to new experiences, but not as open to new experiences as a person with a high score on the reflective and complex music dimension.

People high on this dimension tend to enjoy Classical, Blues, Jazz, and Folk music. On the Reflective & Complex Dimension you fell in the 96 percentile. This score is very high.
  96%

Based on your responses, you scored above average on the reflective and complex music-preference dimension. Research in our laboratory indicates that people high on this dimension, like you, often have the following characteristics:

People with high scores on the reflective and complex music-preference dimension tend to be open to new experiences, creative, intellectual, and enjoy trying new things. When it comes to politics, they tend to lean toward the liberal side. Wisdom, diversity, and fine arts are all important to them. When it comes to lifestyle, high scorers tend to be sophisticated, and relatively well off financially. After a hard day of work, if they're not listening to music or reading a book, they enjoy documentary films, independent, classic, or foreign films.

People high on this dimension tend to enjoy Alternative, Rock, and Heavy Metal music. On the Edgy & Aggressive Dimension you fell in the 33 percentile. This score is quite low.
  33%

Based on your responses, you scored below average on the edgy and aggressive music-preference dimension. Research in our laboratory indicates that people low on this dimension, like you, often have the following characteristics:

People with low scores on the energetic and aggressive music-preference dimension don't get their kicks on skydiving or rock climbing. They tend to be friendly, less assertive than the average person, and conventional. They tend to place a lot of importance on family security, salvation, and tranquility. When they're not listening to music, watching television, or reading a book, they probably enjoy watching a dramatic movie, major motion picture, romance movie, or classic film.

People high on this dimension tend to enjoy Pop, Religious, Country, and Soundtrack music. On the Fun & Simple Dimension you fell in the 94 percentile. This score is very high.
  94%

Based on your responses, you scored above average on the fun and simple music-preference dimension. Research in our laboratory indicates that people high on this dimension, like you, often have the following characteristics:

People with high scores on the fun and simple music-preference dimension tend to be sociable, forgiving, happy, reliable, and athletic. When it comes to morals and values, they tend be conservative, and consider family, salvation, and discipline important life values. On those days when the cable's on the fritz, they enjoy reading fashion or sports magazines, and watching a major motion picture, musical, western movie, or comedy movie.

People high on this dimension tend to enjoy Hip-hop, Rap, Funk, Soul, and Electronic music. On the Energetic & Upbeat Dimension you fell in the 75 percentile. This score is quite high.
  75%

Based on your responses, you scored above average on the energetic and upbeat music-preference dimension. Research in our laboratory indicates that people high on this dimension, like you, often have the following characteristics:

People with high scores on the energetic and upbeat music-preference dimension tend to be extraverted, relaxed, romantic, creative, and physically active. Friendships, freedom, and social recognition provide their lives with meaning and guidance. For a good party, fans of energetic and upbeat music, are the ones to call. Compared to people who do not like energetic and upbeat music, they tend to enjoy watching action movies, science fiction movies, gangster/mobster movies, comedy movies, and erotic films.

Listening to: Feedback by Janet Jackson
Feeling: content

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Joker to Batman: YOU COMPLETE ME (The Dark Knight Review)
POSTED AT 06:51 AM in Big screen ravings

Jerry Maguire's memorable love quote to Dorothy is exhilaratingly funny coming from the very lips of the Joker...

You complete me... Yes, Batman completes Joker indeed.  Like a heated love affair, the Joker proved to Batman that his world will be dull and boring without Batman to keep it smoking and exciting! So when Batman asked him why he (the Joker) wants to kill him, the Joker's answer was: "Kill you? I don't want to kill you. What would I do without you?" What a joke from the Joker! He even told Batman at the ending that they cannot afford kill each other; Batman cannot kill him because of self-righteousness and he cannot kill Batman because he's just too fun! They're destined to fight each other forever alright!

It was really fun watching the movie, the two hours and 30 minutes playtime is worth every second. There was no dull moments, no acting flaws, no boring scenes, just the best, only the best from the Dark Knight. That's why I would like to share ten of my most unforgettable scenes, lessons and quotes in the movie. Hope you'll enjoy 'em!

(1) Joker's magic trick was cool! In the scene where the Joker uninvitingly entered the Mob's meeting and offered his service to kill Batman, he introduced a pencil trick. He made a pencil stand on the table and promised to make it disappear. When a Mob member tried to take him, he slammed the guy's head on the pencil and when the guy dropped (probably dead, with the pencil punching his head), tadan! (drum rolls please) The pencil is gone! What a magic trick! LOL! Well, it would be morbid of course to others but it came out funny anyway because the Joker made it look funny and of course there's no blood trace. C'mon, it was hilarious!

(2) Still in that Mob meeting scene, the Mob laughed at Joker for telling them he can kill Batman and one asked him if he can do it why is Batman still alive? The Joker's only answer was "If you're good at something, never do it for free". Hmmm... at some point, he's right. Especially nowadays when everything has a tag price and that nothing comes for free. What a smart-mouth.

(3) Harvey Dent's unwavering faith in Batman. Ok Harvey or the so-called Two-Face is a public figure (the District attorney) and also Rachel Dawes (Batman's one true love)'s new boyfriend. I was touched by his boyish musing about Batman, the way he talked about Batman with faith and awe. He's a public figure but still  very idealistic. His sincerity touched Batman to the core.

(4) Batman's resolve to reveal his identity just to save the people of Gotham. I know he's a superhero, he's supposed to do something good and admirable and respectable. But well, I wasn't expecting him to reveal himself and end the good life that he's enjoying (one of the richest and the most powerful man in the world!), even end his life for that matter just to save the people from the hands of the Joker. He's a hero alright, as well as Harvey when he presented himself as Batman and faced future risks.

(5) The fact that corruption is a universal problem. Sigh. It was rather sad that cops, people who we trust to defend justice and peace are corruptible. What makes it more difficult is that they always have reasons for doing it. It was distressing for these people to go on sell the lives of others for their family's medical bills, the way Detective Ramirez sell Harvey and Rachel to save her dying mother.

(6) Batman's pathetic lovelife. I know all superheros cannot maintain a lovelife because they can't afford to reveal their identity or that they cannot risk the life of the woman they love. Well, at least MJ loved Spidey and willing to marry him even with all the risks. Well, Rachel, she was being sensible and practical when she decided to marry Harvey instead of waiting for Bruce to totally cast off Batman and be Bruce, the man she loves. It just hurts though that Rachel died (MJ and Lois never died, huh!) and she took with her the truth. Batman was left to believe that Rachel was willing to wait for her when she wasn't. Shucks! At least, our hero has high hopes.

(7) Harvey Dent - from DA to TF. The District Attorney's transformation to Two-Face was simple and yet moving. I can't just take his ghastly other face (left-side) off my mind. It was rather the most opposite of his boyish right face.

(8) It's sad that it's that easy to push one person from being a saint to a devil. As the Joker said, it just takes gravity. Well, he's done it of course, to Harvey. When he twisted his minds with lies (and some truth) ans thus corrupt and tarnish his once idealistic mind. In Harvey's situation, the evil won.

(9) The Joker in a Nurse outfit was simply hilarious! Especially with the wig!

(10) The good prevails over bad. The scene where the Joker held two ships as hostages (one ship with policemen and the hundreds of convicts/criminals, the other with innocent people -- men, women and kids who are trying to get away from the city for fear of the Joker) proved once again that the good always wins over the bad. Well, in that scene, the Joker planted bombs in both ships hoping one will blow up. He also gave both ships the detonator, of, that is, the other ship's bomb. Meaning, a ship can blow up the other and vice vesa. The Joker threatened the passengers of both ship that they should blow up the other ship or else, at the strike of midnight, he'll be the one to choose which ship will skyrocket in the dark night. Well, both ships have 15 minutes to decide whether to blow up the other ship and survive or wait for the other ship to blow them up and die. Well, in times like these, the people of Gotham still believes in democracy! Why! They still find the time to vote whether they should push the button and blow up the other ship before they do it first or not. Blowing up the other ship unanimously won however, but nobody wants to push the button. On the other ship full of criminals, it was unlikely that you see these kind of people undecided because if they're heartless criminals, it would be easy for them to blow up the other ship. Well, it turned out that a big man, looking really scary and really deadly, decided to volunteer to do something about the situation. His line "You don't want to die but you don't know how to take a life" gave me the chills. I was thinking oh boy! He's gonna give in to the Joker. But what he did was, he picked up the detonator and threw it outside the ship, saving the other ship and possibly risking their lives. While on the other ship, one man stood up saying "You don't want your hands dirty, well let me do the job" and took the detonator, but after many thrilling seconds, he put it back to the box, telling he can't do it. Well, it just shows that human beings in the face of one adversary (the devil) still prove that they have heart and the conscience to do what is right. Well, Joker lose this one. As Batman told him "Not everybody's as heartless as you". Shucks I wanna stand up and clap my hands!

Well, I cried after watching the movie just because I miss Heath (he's my 2nd most favorite actor next to Hugh Jackman). He's just sooooo good. His acting in the movie is great! Perfect! What a waste of talent! He is indeed worthy of an acting award for this. Of course I commend the Nolans for their writing, their words, their treatment of the character. Heath gave justice to the menacing manifesto of the Joker. I say, he's even better than Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker. Not because he's my favorite actor but also because the role was really difficult and his performance was just great! I LOVE YOU HEATH...

 

Reading: Heath Ledger's Mini Biography
Listening to: Mozart's Allegro, Violin Concerto No.3 in G Major, K. 216
Feeling: giggly

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PIANO IN THE DARK - The story behind the image
POSTED AT 12:47 PM in That's what you call Music

Before I had the opportunity to sing the song with my band, I never really gave much time to Brenda Russell. I mean, the song is nice but I seldom hear it on the radio and I never had my MP4 when I was 7 years old (hehehe, the song was released on 1988).

 

But when I heard Jinky (of Freestyle) sang the song, (she recorded it on her first solo album "Jinky" together with "Tonight I Give In", among others) I was somewhat entranced. I told myself I have to know more about the song; I mean, not just the lyrics but as well as the story behind it. There's got to be a story somewhere, it's such as sad and meaningful song. I can almost feel myself being imprisoned by love everytime I sing it.

So I digged and found my treasure!

The lyrics of the Piano In The Dark is actually a product of a wonderful experience to Ms. Russell. According to her, her Music composers Scott Cutler and Jeffrey Hall sent her the music first and after listening to the rhythm, she just had the thought that the song title Piano In The Dark will go with the music. You see, she's been keeping a little "Song title book" where she records possible titles of the songs of which the lyrics she'll write soon. After matching the title with the music, she started writing the lyrics. Cool eh?

Actually, when Scott and Jeffrey called her one day to follow-up, they weren't really sold out about the idea of naming the song Piano in the Dark. The reason behind this doubt is because Brenda herself wasn't comfortable about it at first. But then they gave her a go signal and when she started writing the lyrics, the words just flowed out... beautifully.

Piano in the Dark is actually a total imagery song -- which gave listeners the opportunity to create images in their minds while listening to the music and lyrics. Brenda Russell was said to be disappointed when music videos of the song started to come out because it interpreted the song and robbed the listeners of the opportunity of creating their own images. It's like reading a good story (a book/novel) and then get disappointed when watching the movie version because it is not the images that you created in your mind.

Well, the song is about a woman loving a man who plays a piano. The woman wants to leave the man because she's kinda bored with the relationship but everytime she comes around deciding to leave, the man will sit down and start playing the piano. The melody will then make her change her decision and stay. Meaning, the woman's so inlove with the way the man plays the piano in the dark. It's the music, his music, that keeps her at his side. Well, it's like some relationships. One will get bored and then decide to leave when the other starts doing romantic things that will make the other reluctant to leave...

Sigh... it's a real love story.. not really uncommon... but still touching. And the way Jinky sings the song! Really nice! I love it! Well, here's the lyrics, in case you haven't heard of it yet.

When I find myself watchin' the time
I never think about all the funny things you said
I feel like it's dead
Where is it leading me now
I turn around in the still of the room
Knowin' this is when I'm gonna make my move
Can't wait any longer
And I'm feeling stronger but oh

Just as I walk (just a little more time) to the door
I can feel your emotion yeah it's pullin' me back
(Just a little more time) back to love you

Oh no caught up in the middle
I cry just a little when I think of lettin' go
Oh no gave up on the riddle
I cry just a little when he plays piano in the dark

He holds me close like a thief of the heart
He plays a melody born to tear me all apart
The silence is broken
And no words are spoken but oh

Just as I walk (just a little more time) to the door
I can feel your emotion yeah it's pullin' me back
(Just a little more time) back to love you

Oh no caught up in the middle
I cry just a little when I think of lettin' go
Oh no gave up on the riddle
I cry just a little when he plays piano in the dark

Oh the silence is broken
No words are spoken but oh

Just as I walk (just a little more time) to the door
I can feel your emotion (oh baby) oh baby hold me back
(Just a little more time) back to love you

Oh no caught up in the middle
I cry just a little when I think of lettin' go
Oh no gave up on the riddle
I cry just a little ooh I cry I cry I know

Oh no caught up in the middle
I cry just a little when I think of lettin' go
Oh no gave up on the riddle
I cry just a little when he plays piano in the dark

Reading: All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell
Listening to: Piano In The Dark by Jinky Vidal (of Freestyle)
Feeling: grateful

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A time for Everything on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
POSTED AT 08:36 AM in Reading for substance

Growing up in a religious family, I've always love reading the Bible. I've found a lot of beautiful and meaningful verses in the Bible. Well everything in the Bible is beautiful since it is a compilation of books with God's words in it. However, I can't stop myself from playing favorites. Yes, I have my own list of favorite verses in the Bible. On the top comes Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and then followed closely by I Corinthians 13:1-13...

If you're not really familiar with the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3 is about TIME and I Corinthians 13 is about LOVE. I have been moved over and over by the "Time" verse every time I read it. In fact, I have it carved in my heart in mind. It's just so real that even if I sometimes deny its truthfulness, I always end up accepting the inevitable fact. These verses have helped me coped up with the trials in my life, helped me to understand that life has a beginning and an end, such as love begins and ends...

These Bible verses have made an impact in my life. I remembered I have been grasping for someone to hold on to in so many parts of my life. Oh, I know I can count on my Mama to be there for me everytime but you see, my love for my Mom's holding me back from pouring all my troubles on her. It wouldn't be fair for her, I want her to be happy too. She'll be miserable if she'll come to know all my heartbreaks. But there's God, He's always ready to offer a hand, to reach out. He's just waiting for us to acknowledge His important presence in our lives. So, I held on to His words in the Bible. And yes, it helped me a lot.

Well, I think it's high time for me to share this wonderful verse to you. Here you go...



I'm sure other will be more familiar with the LOVE verse (I Corinthians 13), I think it's equally (maybe even more) popular.

 

Listening to: Someday by Kyla
Feeling: grateful

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What's In A Name?
POSTED AT 01:03 PM in My Life and what's left of it...

Look at that! Did they just tell me I am a very positive, enthusiastic and inspiring person? And that they can sense happiness, fun  and charm in  me? That's something!

Ok, I'm shocked! Hehehe!

Well, ok, I'm not, I'm actually feeling good about it. At least they're being honest. Ahem!

Of course I know I'm a very expressive person, it's even hard for me to lie because my eyes tell the truth. And yes, I'm ok with communication. I'm just not sure if I'm skilled. Hehe! And yes, I consider myself creative, (Hey! I am, ok? Let's not argue about that.) hehehe.

I have a little trouble accepting this sentence anyway: The name MAY attracts just about everyone. Uhmm ok. They mean, the name, not the person. Hahaha! So my name can charm just about anyone eh? Well, maybe. Some of my college instructors (ehem, 7 years ago) were really hard to please and my classmates seem to find them cynical, but I charmed them, didn't I?

Ey! got my name meaning at http://babyzone.tarot.com. . I came across the site while looking for baby names and its meaning. Well, babyzone is a great site, really informative and highly-educational as well especially for expecting, to-be-Moms out there.

What are you waiting now? Try your name, just for the fun of it. I'm pretty tickled with my name meaning, not really sure if its true but well, its nice to know that I can "charm the most cynical folk"... hehehe. Click this link: http://babyzone.tarot.com/external/babyadvisor/babyzone

Get back with your own name meaning. Share the fun, will ya?

Listening to: My Sacrifice by Creed
Feeling: amused

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Goodbye To Mamahood??
POSTED AT 02:05 PM in My Life and what's left of it...

I went to my OB-GYN last Friday for a check-up. The doctor made me wait for an hour or so because she has to deliver a baby in the Emergency Room. I never really minded the wait because I've learned another lesson in life.

So before I get bored and decide to get home I started to chat with other moms-to-be in the clinic. I chatted with Marianne and Cherry. Marianne looks heavy with her 3rd baby and she said she's getting a ligation because 3 kids is her limit. Cherry strongly said "no", then she apologized and said she doesn't mean to take that tone on us. She was just upset with the thought that other women doesn't want to have kids anymore while she's aching to have one.

We asked her what she meant. She said she's already 44, unmarried (still a virgin, she said this with a smile and a wink) and childless. We told her she can still go for it since she doesn't look 40 at all, she looks about 30 as a matter of fact and she's pretty as well. She said she's been busy with work all her life. No time for love or marriage, saying she wasn't in a hurry.

A tear escaped her eye when she said "Now, it's too late". We told her "of course not!". There's plenty of time. But she said, it's too late to have a baby now. She can't have one. Her myoma is on a very dangerous stage. Marianne told her she can have an operation to take the tumor away. Cherry said the doctor said it's impossible, her uterus should be removed as well, not only the myoma. We were dumbfounded. I mean, I don't know what to say. Marianne recovered first and told her maybe the doctor had a wrong diagnosis. Well, Cherry tried to smile and told us she's got 2nd and 3rd opinions with the same results. I said I'm sorry about it. But she can still marry. Cherry said nobody would want to marry her when she can't have children anymore. We try to comfort her and Marianne tried to change the topic so Cherry would stop crying...

Well, it was really sad. When I got home I realized people were so busy with their jobs that they tend to forget a more important element in this life. Maybe Cherry was right on the onset because she was just trying to prepare for the future... but well, her preparation is nothing without a family to share it with.

But I think she can still find a guy, somebody would still want to marry her. They can adopt too... It's not the same but at least she's got a family. What would you do if you're Cherry? Would you give up marriage as well?

 

Listening to: A Song For Mama by Boyz II Men
Feeling: sympathetic

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Psst and your name.
POSTED AT 02:06 PM in My Life and what's left of it...

My officemates and I had this corporate dinner in a seafood restaurant the other night because our American client arrived and wants to spend time with the team. We had the dinner in Panagatan, a restaurant with a band floating in the seas of Cagayan de Oro.

<<<<<<<<-------- Ok, that's Mafe and Me!

Anyways, our boss (also an American) came with his wife (a Filipina). I really have nothing against an American-Filipina love affair because I have friends who were happily married to American guys. But this one Filipina really pi$$ed me and my officemates off.

Ok, so the girl is not refined. I mean, maybe she isn't lucky enough to get an education but I think manners are taught in homes right?Now this Filipina has been calling the waiters with "pssst" and then asks for ice or ashtray or other things. She's been doing it a lot and rather haughtily that I thought she just thinks she's superior than the waiters. Well, I give her that, she's a customer, so ok, fine.

Then she "pssst" my friend/officemate Mafe. Of course Mafe didn't heed her because she's got a name for God's sake and she's just sitting beside her anyways (she can say "Excuse me" or tap Mafe's hand if she doesn't know her name), so she never thought the girl was calling her. We finally told Mafe that the girl is calling her because the girl seems to look irritated. She then gave Mafe her digital camera and told her to take pictures of her and his American hubby (our boss). That, without even saying "Please". Well, Mafe obliged of course. She by the way is the boss' wife.

That incident completely forgotten, we were trying to enjoy dinner and the talk when Mafe suddenly jumped out of her seat. Well, the girl spilled her beer all over Mafe's arms and legs. And do you know her reaction? She just said "Oh" and then retrieved the toppled bottle. Just like that! Not even a "sorry"! Gosh! Talk about attitude!My colleague tried to suppress her anger and so to comfort her I offered to accompany her to the ladies room to wash the smell of beer away. That's when and where Mafe ranted. I don't blame her though. That girl really have no breeding and refinement. I'm not sure if she's really like that or being married to an American suddenly gave her the air.

Oh boy!

 

Listening to: I'm a Bitch by Meredith Brooks
Feeling: annoyed

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Saving All My Love For You
POSTED AT 02:07 PM in My Life and what's left of it..., That's what you call Music

I always love Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love For You". It's a woman's song for a man who isn't hers and can't be hers because the man is already married. No, I have not been involved with a married guy and I don't plan to enter such heartbreaking situation. I just love the song, first for its rhythm, second for its raw emotion, third because I'm a Whitney fan and lastly because I'm a married woman myself (though I've been separated for almost four years now) and I found myself wondering if the man whom I was involved with 2 years ago felt the same as the woman in that song.

I remember one ex-boyfriend who never wanted to let go of me even if the truth is plain, I can never be free. I urged him to find someone else and love someone else instead, start a family with her, but he wouldn't budge. He loved me and wanted to spend his life with me. It broke my heart. From the start of the relationship I was honest with him. The relationship must not be muddled with "always and forever". Nor it can be romantic and sweet. We just have to enjoy each other's company and never go beyond that. I told him we can't be too serious like forever because I cannot divorce my husband (church issue, I cannot discuss it here). It's like I have to live alone forever...

Sigh. I know I broke his heart, my heart has already been torn into pieces and I have nothing to worry about it anymore. Loving a married woman never did good to him. I felt guilty.  But we both know I can't be free to love someone else. I'm a prisoner and I shall be the happiest woman on earth on the day of my freedom.

 

Reading: The Other Side of Love by Jacqueline Briskin
Listening to: Saving All My Love For You by Whitney Houston
Feeling: sad

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The day we almost lost it... a poem for my bestfriend
POSTED AT 02:08 PM in My Life and what's left of it..., Writing for sanity's sake

I used to believe that some things are better left unsaid,
I was wrong...
Keeping these emotions inside have accomplished nothing,
Left nothing...
But pain, deep and scarring.
Anger, raw and blazing.
Regrets, yes, regrets, intoxicating, blindingly painful...
Deadly.

Yeah, I know it's a really sad poem. It's not even finished yet, not because I have no time to, but because it's just so painful to continue writing about my bottled pains...

Well, I'm glad though that I never finished it, and haven't had the chance to give it to the expected recipient. We've come to our senses and renewed our friendship, for better and for worse. The painful part will never be forgotten but it will serve as a lesson to us. It will be a part of a strong bond that we share. I love my friend. I really do. She's the best and I just can't find someone else to replace her place in my heart. I'm just so happy we've overcame the test of friendship.

I know there are lots of things that I find unacceptable in her behavior towards me in the past, I know she's hurt me when she did all those crazy things to me and the fact that she never ever uttered an apology. Whatever were her reasons for doing all those things, purposely or not, I just cannot erase her from my life. If I am to weigh the good versus the bad, I know which one will win. We do  have our downs but it can never dim the ups that we shared together... 

 

Listening to: If I Had Only One Friend Left by Dan Seal
Feeling: nostalgic

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DAVAO CITY, relaxation haven
POSTED AT 02:12 PM in My Life and what's left of it...

Davao City is really cool, really rocks, simply the best!

I've been to many places in the Philippines but nothing beats Davao City. Manila is much too crowded, Makati is nice with all its buildings but well, there's nothing much to do there except hanging out on those malls and clubbing at night. Baguio is nice too, and Subic is great with its clean streets but not so much cool destinations in both places. I've been to Laguna, Marikina and QC, they're ok too. Cebu City is not good for me, too much dirt, too much "prosti" in the arms of those foreigners and too much shouting in the streets.

In Davao City, you'll be awed with so many cool destinations, click the following links for examples:

EDEN NATURE PARK
http://www.edennaturepark.com.ph/history.htm
PEARL FARM
http://www.asiatravel.com...
JACK'S RIDGE
http://www.jacksridgedavao.com/index.php
MALAGOS GARDEN
http://www.malagos.com/resort
MERGRANDE OCEAN RESORT
http://mergrande.com
(Others)
http://www.world66.com/as...
HOTELS
http://www.beelinetravel.com/davao/?D=A

You can also relax in Davao City. People are so friendly and accommodating, not to mention, discipline too, the place is really clean and serene and the malls (NCCC Mall, highly recommended) and other night spots are not bad too!

There are also big universities in Davao City, including Ateneo, UP, AMACU, Davao Doctor's Univ., USEP, among others.

Ahh! There's no place like home! DAVAO CITY, the best!

Please visit http://www.davaocity.gov.ph for more information.

 

Listening to: Stitches and Burn by Fra Lippo Lippi
Feeling: ecstatic

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The Fountain: deep, agonizing pain
POSTED AT 02:14 PM in Big screen ravings

 

Feeling: contemplative

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The Women (and the cute girls) in My Life
POSTED AT 10:17 AM in My Life and what's left of it... as a favorite post

I had several women in my life, but not the way you're thinking, dirtbag! I'm straight honey! Hehehe. What I mean is that I've always been friendly to other people but I only get close to few people, I only have several bestfriends, and of course in the top of the list is my MAMA .

 Let's start with JANEL. She's the cute girl with long straight hair in cream shirt (column 1, row 2). She's my bandmate. We sang together in restobars and other party locations. Our band Kindred Soul brought us together and yep, we became friends since then. I really liked it when there's no jealousy between us. We respect each other in the band. I love her voice, really good. She looks up to me like her older sister (ouch!) and believes in everything I say. Yup, we trusted each other a great deal, we're the stars of our band!

Then there's JESSICA. The strong girl in yellow with Karen and me (column 1 row 3). She's Innodata (my ex-workplace)'s Most Valuable Player in Volleyball. Very good in mashing the ball, the best spiker there is! I like her because she's really friendly and polite. She also taught me well, even if we faced each other as opponents in the Semis. Of course they beat us, hehehe. She's beautiful and sexy as well, especially now! She's in Abu Dhabi working in Real Estate. Shucks! I miss her.

And there's KAREN. She's the pretty woman in blue (column 2, row 2). She's my bestfriend in Cebu. Me, Jessica and Karen are really close. Yet, I'm closer to Karen because we're in the same team (yup, she's a volleyball player as well), and we use to belong in the same department (I was a Technical Trainer like Karen before I became a Software Engineer). Karen's got two baby boys. They're really cute, they have Karen's beauty. I like Karen because she's really smart and candid. She's always honest with me even if the truth would hurt. Well, that's how friendship should go. I miss her too...

JOVAN! Such a beautiful woman inside and out! (The one with curly hair in column 2 row 1). She's my closest cousin (hey, we're a beautiful family ok? Hehehe!). She's got 2 beautiful kids too, Joshua and Jazel. I love my cousin. We both have the same frustrating married life and thus we connect with each other. She's a very strong woman, really brave and intellectual. (Well, it runs in the family!) She sings really good too! With her very calm and sexy voice. (I said it runs in the family! Hehehe!) I hurt everytime she cry and suffer all those marital issues. I feel for her. She's very young and life has been painful to her. Well, she's a Registered Nurse and will be going abroad soon to try her luck. I'm thinking of joining her soon.

Well, there's MANDY. She's sporting that Angelina Jolie smile in her "HUNG" cap. Hehehe! (column 1 row 1). She's my bestfriend for 13 years. Yep, that long. We go back from high school days and we have nothing in common except for our faith. We've been insulting each other since our high school days. Hehehe! Just kidding. I'm fond of Mandy. We have differences, we've had ups and downs, we almost lost the friendship, but we're still there. We're still friends. And even if she found some new friends, she'll still be my bestfriend. She's married to an American by the way, to very sweet and kind Nathan. She loves and needs him, he's good for him. They're in Kansas now. I miss Mandy. I miss her weird nature, hehehe, I miss bantering with her, I miss our strolls in the park, our food tripping in those restos and fast food bars, our shopping sprees, our lenghty talks/discussions about books, about life. I hope she's really really happy now. I love Mandy, she's a great person.

Now here are my cute nieces! (Column 2 row 3). Shucks! Baby Sky and Baby Ivan weren't there, I should have their pictures taken with me too! I love my nieces and my one and only nephew. They are my sisters' pride and joy. I have no child of my own but these kids are like my own as well. Well Keeshia, the eldest among the cousins is the closest to me for many reasons. I've spent more time with her than the other kids and I see some of my qualities in her as well. But they're all my babies, my pretty babies (well, baby Ivan, the only baby boy, is rather dashing and handsome too). I miss them all. Living away from them makes me cry sometimes. But soon, this will come to an end. I wanna feel my babies' loving embraces again, those sloppy kisses. Oh how I love my angels!

Now, that's my pretty little sister Pearly in red (Column 1 row 4). Well, she's rather voluptuous in that picture because she just gave birth to cute little Sky . Pearly is a really sweet darling, and although she's got her own family now, I still see her as my spoiled, adorable youngest sister. Yes, we all love her and we do spoil her at times and treats her like a princess but she deserves it, she's so young and sweet, we let her get away with it.

And the kindest among Ledesma sisters, taddannnn... Jenny ! (Column 2 row 4) Yes, she's the family's angel, always quiet, always obedient, always just, she's simply the best. I never remember a single ocassion that Papa spanked Jenny, never! She's just a very nice person that she can never do wrong. She's also very intelligent! Always at the top of her class and is now the Dean of Computer Studies in Brokenshire College. Well, she's always given the family what we wanted, like she gave birth to the first and only baby boy in the family, handsome little Ivan .

And the best of the best! My MAMA! She's my bestfriend forever. I love her so much that it hurts. I can't bear it if she's lonely, it breaks my heart when she cry. My Mama knows me, but not everything, as much as possible, I wanna save her from all the miseries and pain. I don't want her to know all my troubles and heartaches, I don't want to be a burden to her. She's been an impoverished girl all her childhood and adolescent years and now she deserves to be happy , free from all worries. I'll give my life to my Mama. I'll kill for her. I wouldn't want to hear anything against her, it'll make my blood boil. She's the most important person in my life. I have dreams for her, promises that I have to fulfill not because I'm her daughter but because I love her so much. She's the best mother in this world. Kind-hearted, understanding, generous, loving and sensitive of other people's feelings. Yep, she's one of a kind and she's my Mom!

I want to put Floricel there as well, she's my college bestfriend and I love her dearly but I have no scanned picture of us. I should have carried with me that bulky and heavy album! I miss Floricel, she's in Davao now, a very sweet and loving girl, who deserves to be treated with kindness and gentleness as well.

There, they're the women (and girls) in my life. And they're the best bunch!

Listening to: You're My Bestfriend by Nelson del Castillo
Feeling: happy

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Technology Galore: The story behind the category
POSTED AT 03:05 PM in Technology Slumbook (Life Made Simplier)

I am a Computer Engineer, at least that's what my diploma told me,  hehehe. But I never really spent my 6 years of professional life in that field. I was never given the chance to troubleshoot and repair computers, create my own local or widea area networks, or engineer my own technology piece. Let's just say, we live in an unjust society unfree of discrimination and stereotyping. I am anyway a woman trying to fit in a man's world.

So I became a College Instructor, a Technical Trainer, a Software Engineer (Programmer), Systems Analyst and a Social Media Buyer (yep, blogs!). I had fun in all those jobs, I love teaching as mush as I love singing and writing, so being a College Instructor and a Trainer was really great. I also found out that programming is cool though others see me as a geek for being a Software Engineer. Being a Systems Analyst put me on my element as well since I love thinking up of solutions to problems and I really dig innovations. Well, blogging, I like writing and reading so being a Social Media Buyer is good as well.

But my biggest frustration is HARDWARE. Way back in college, my favorite subjects are Mathematics, Digital Circuits, Electronics and Logic. I just love connecting wires and integrated circuits with all those diodes, capacitors, resistors, timers, flip-flops and other electronic devices. I feel like Einstein everytime I finish a project and see all my LEDs go on and off with just a push of a button or a click of a switch. Ah! Those days! Those magical days are gone. I let it go just like that. And now I'm missing it. Sigh.

Maybe that's the reason why I added a new category in this blog: Technology Slumbook (Life Made Simplier). Since my digital hardware knowledge has come to its obsolete phase, I'm recharging my brain. I'm thinking of researching about those technology stuff (gadgets, communication, computers) and share it to all of you. Yup, a free information on technology stuff, the deals, the thrills, the freebies, the whats, the whys, the wheres, the whens, the how-tos and more. Yup, it'll be hard work but I'll take it one at a time.

I'm thinking I'll start with computers first and all its I/O (input/output) devices such as the keyboards, the mouse, the scanner, the USB drive, the printer, etc. I'll also touch on communications to include internet, networks, websites, the world wide web, modems, streaming media and the like. Of course gadgets and e-stuff will also be discussed like digicams, DVDs, flatscreen monitors, MP4s and even e-books!

See ya on my next posts!

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The Computer - A Purpose-Driven Machine
POSTED AT 08:54 AM in Technology Slumbook (Life Made Simplier)

We can find at least hundreds and thousands of definitions of a computer in the web, and I'm really intimidated huh! But let me see what I can do about the mountaneous information in the web, might as well use it to my advantage.

However, we won't be touching the Abacus or the Napier's Bones here though they've contributed a lot to the birth of computer. Let's just say, to make the story short, we'll deal mostly of modern computers, specifically the personal computer. So let's start the slumbook, shall we?

Name: Computer

Nickname/Alias: PC, Personal Computer

Birthdate: 1957 (as IBM 610 Auto Point Computer) | 1977 (as Apple II)

Birthplace: Watson Lab at Columbia University | Silicon Valley

Nationality: American| American

Parents: John Lentz | Steve Jobs and  Steve Wozniak

Hang-outs: No Permanent Address -- Homes, Offices, Schools, Hospitals and other institutions

Body Parts: Input Devices that tells it what to do, acting as a conduit for information from the User to the Computer (Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone, etc); Output Devices that tells the User what the computer has done (Monitor, Speakers, Printers, etc); Processor or the "Chip" or the "CPU" that plays a vital role in every function and performance of the computer since it is the "brain". Thus, it directly or indirectly control all the works accomplished by the computer; Memory (short-term) or a working memory to remember all the tasks that has to be done (also known as RAM or Random Access Memory); Hard Drive (or Hard Disk) for storing all the applications that run on the system as well as all the works that has been accomplished; Motherboard or the main circuit board which connects all the internal components of the computer; Power Supply that regulates the electricity used by the computer.

 Add-Ons: Software are applications or programs that can extend the computer's capabilities (intangible); Hardware (body parts above) can be improved or upgraded for maximum computing experience such as a faster RAM or a larger Hard Drive; Peripherals can be connected to the computer to perform specific tasks (usually I/O devices) such as a Scanner, a Digital Camera, a TV Tuner, a Modem and others.

Activities: Many things! Such as document typing (word processing), e-mail sending, internet browsing, chatting, playing games and a lot more!

Wardrobe: As of now, computers are dressed up in more than a hundred brands! The most popular and most-bought brands however are as follows:

Œ¤        ACER: offers desktop, laptop, and tablet computers, with complete line of accessories. Products are relatively inexpensive albeit typically not among the cheapest. Visit www.acer.com for more information.

 

¤      APPLE: Being one of the first releasers of the personal computer (Apple II) it is quite highly-advanced than the others and more popular. The brand also manufactures a variety of desktop and laptop computers, as well as accessories. Products are in general more expensive, but boast of operating systems less susceptible to viruses. Visit www.apple.com for a more comprehensive product details.

 

¤      COMPAQ: Was once considered as one of the pillars of computer industry until it was acquired by HP and given second priority. Products are relatively inexpensive (some models) for laptop and desktop computer systems. Find out more about it at h18000.www1.hp.com

 

¤      DELL: Formerly known as PC’s Limited, this brand has the reputation to sell inexpensive desktop, laptop computers, printers, monitors and other accessories. It is also popular for its systematic methods of assembling computer systems after customers have ordered a specific configuration they desire from its website. See how it works at www.dell.com

 

¤      EMACHINES: This brand is one of the few which offers lower prices than Dell but not as cheaper as Everex on most of its computer models, tower-style desktops computers and monitors. This brand favors AMD more than Intel processors. Check its product line at www.emachines.com

 

¤      EVEREX: One of the youngest brand in the computer industry (dating back to 1985), this brand is not really well-known. It has become ppular nowadays when it introduced and released a very low under-$300 energy-efficient desktop computer. Visit www.everex.com to know why it calls itself the alternative PC company.

 

¤      HP: The acronym for Hewlett-Packard is a popular brand which manufactures desktop and laptop computers, printers, digital cameras and other computer stuff. Like EMachines, this brand is leaning towards AMD processors more often than Intel. HP is also moderately priced compared to other brands. Start shopping at www.hp.com now.

 

¤      IBM/LENOVO: The most popular household brand, IBM is known for introducing IBM-compatible computers and ThinkPad laptops at moderate expense. IBM has been recently acquired by Lenovo.  To find out more about its products, visit www.ibm.com.

 

¤      SONY: Though the brand is best known for its Vaio laptop computer series, it also manufactures some fairly expensive small desktop computer models, monitors and keyboards. Be awed by its products’ style and elegance at www.sony.com.   

 Thomas Watson, one of the first bosses of the giant IBM Corporation (1940s) stated what was probably the worst and fallacious prediction in history when he allegedly foretold that the world would need no more than “about five computers”. Well, after six decades the global population of computers has now risen to something like one billion machines! Five computers eh?

 

Feeling: energetic

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Wawawa.. .The World Wide Web
POSTED AT 02:46 PM in Technology Slumbook (Life Made Simplier)

I am sure the World Wide Web and the Internet are related but are not the same; they're not synonymous. Well, what's the difference?

Well, the Internet is a giant set of connections; thus, it is a complex networking infrastructure. The World Wide Web on the other hand is an admission/access technique/approach to millions and millions of information that are available over the Internet channel.   Still a little vague?

Ok, let’s dissect the information further. The internet hooks-up millions of computers together from all over the world so they can communicate with each other. The World Wide Web is then an information-sharing replica which was built to be used over the Internet. Thus, WWW is used to transmit data through utilizing the available browsers such as the Mozilla Firefox or the Internet Explorer.

Meaning, if the Internet is the highway of information, then World Wide Web could be a car, or a bus, or a truck that carries an information from one point to another. Hmmm… I think that’s a little clear now. Let’s do the slumbook shall we?

 Name: World Wide Web

Nickname/Alias: WWW, Web, W3, Wawawa

Birthdate: 1989

Birthplace: CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research

Nationality: Swiss

Parents: Tim Berners-Lee

Hang-outs: In the Internet through the following web browsers:

    ¤ Internet Explorer was developed by Microsoft and is bundled with every Microsoft Windows Operating Systems since 1995; making it the most widely used web browser since 1999. The latest version (IE7) comes with tabbed browsing, web search on the toolbar, advance printing and many more.

    ¤ Mozilla Firefox is IE’s major competition as it is dominates the internet and is becoming faster, more secure and more customizable than other browsers. It was developed and managed by Mozilla Corporation and was first released on September 23, 2002. It features one-click bookmarking, full zoom, instant website ID, Password Manager among others.

 ¤ Safari was developed by Apple Inc. and was bundled with Mac OS X operating system. It actually became the default web browser of all Mac computers after its release. Its first release (beta) was on January 7, 2003.

    ¤ Opera was authored by the Opera Software company as a web browser and internet suite combined. Thus, it was tailored to handle typical Internet-related tasks such as crawling and displaying websites, email and contacts capabilities, chatting, file downloading, among others. It is actually a freeware for personal computers and mobile phones.

    ¤ Netscape Navigator has been popular during the early 90s. It has been the flagship product of Netscape Communications Corporation before its popularity rating dropped due to the bundling of the Microsoft Internet Explorer within the Windows operating system. They actually sue Microsoft and Windows for this “monopoly” (Microsoft’s Antitrust Trial).

    ¤ Mosaic was developed (1992) and finished (1993) at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). This web browser was actually the browser that popularized the World Wide Web. It was also the first browser for early WWW concepts such as FTP, Usenet and Gopher.

Body Parts: HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) or the set of standard rules/protocols in transfering information in the Internet, HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language) or the language widely used to describe the structure (code) of a website, URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or the "address"/location that represents a resurce in the Internet.

 Add-Ons: Hypertext and Multimedia are two of the most outstanding features of the Web. The others are as follows:

    ¤ Open Standards allow web pages to be viewed from any computer with an internet connection as well as a browser

    ¤ Downloading abilities for all available “online” software and data files

    ¤ Ease of Use/Accessibility – a point and click capability

Activities:

    ¤ Uploading/Publishing as well as constantly updating documents

    ¤ Downloading of available documents as well as freewares (softwares)

    ¤ Connecting/Communicating with a diverse and global community defined by interests and not only by geography

    ¤ Accessing News/Updates just about anything before such news appears in a typical media source

    ¤ Referencing of web resources via hypertext

Well, twenty to thirty years ago, researching has been limited to going to a public library to read a book, a magazine or any available resource therein. Now, one can actually do researching of any subject from anywhere in the planet, at any time he wishes. Of course, with the world wide web he can do that and more. The downside however is that we've become too dependent on the powers of the web that its sudden departure will ultimately bring about chaos in the world. Take note that the web hasn't even celebrated its 20th birthday yet, it's still on its adoloscence stage, yet, it has become one of the most important invention ever.

 "The World Wide Web is the universe of network-accessible information, an embodiment of human knowledge." -- A definition from the organization that Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee helped found, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

Listening to: Sleep All Day by Jason Mraz
Feeling: sleepy

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Top 5 Most Widely Used Speakers in Top Movie Theaters/Cinemas in the US
POSTED AT 02:31 PM in Big screen ravings

I love watching movies on the big screen, especially if it’s a suspense movie wherein the sound should be eerie and sinister enough to give viewers the creep and make them jump out of their seats. Oh well, I love suspense movies like The Psycho, it gives me the excitement and the thrill. Thus, a good theater sound system is a must for me.

However, I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in wanting a good cinema speaker. Suspense-lover or not, a movie-goer definitely appreciates cinemas with full dependable audio to go along with a clear and crisp video (especially in watching a smart and action-packed movie like The Dark Knight ).

I tend to agree with some who says that the quality of sound could make or break a movie (as I’m sure it will definitely speak of the movie theater’s reputation as well). I stumbled upon a reputable movie enthusiast website, the Film Journal International and got engrossed with their Sound Advice article. The two thousand plus-worded article features nine sound experts from nine leading sound companies and their opinions on the problems (and its probable solutions) that most movie theatre operators encounter in their pursuit to delivering a first-rate audio experience.

Having read the article for what it’s worth, my belief is confirmed -- a perfect combination of speaker brand, sound volume, sound tuning, speaker angle and location, subwoofer amplifier power, speaker reverberation, and the overall sound system design is but crucial for a fun-tastic movie experience.

Thus, for this post, I decided to reveal my exploration of the Top 5 Most Widely Used Speakers in Top Movie Theaters/Cinemas in the US. Yep, I’m talking about sound system and speaker brands. Why? So we may be given the opportunity to see for ourselves if these 5 said-to-be Top Movie Theatres in the USA are really giving the viewers their money’s worth. (If you want me to do the same for the Top Movie Theatres in the Philippines, just say so, I’ll be happy to give it my best shot ).

Theater/Cinema	Sound System/Speaker Brand and Description
Regal Entertainment Group	IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) Sound System
	IMAX is of course proud of their sound system’s ability to enhance a film’s sound quality akin to an extraordinarily larger than life movie experience. IMAX potent visual capability is complemented by a state-of-the-art digital surround sound system, including speakers. IMAX claims that Unlike other regular theatre sound systems, their very own IMAX DMR provides multi-channel, uncompressed, full fidelity sound that basically outshines other brands in depth and clarity. In the technical side, IMAX DMR’s amplifiers generate, instead of volume, up to 14,000 watts of power to give movie-goers life-like sound. IMAX' DMRs loudspeakers deliver this exact volume and quality at every seat throughout the theatre, that means, regardless where the audience is sitting.
Landmark Theatres	Dolby Digital sound in Klipsch Speakers
	Landmark Theatres are using the Dolby Digital sound system together with speakers from the best-in-class amplifier expert Klipsch. In one of Landmark newest theatre, they have installed more than 100 Klipsch cinema speakers for a thorough and fully-concentrated audio; even the foyer and bar areas were installed with high-performance Klipsch in-ceiling and surface mount speakers (KPT-435-N, KPT-335-N and KPT-418). These speaker systems feature space-saving abilities as well as great bottom-end performance with high power handling.
Carmike Cinemas	Digital Theater Systems (DTS)
	DTS, an acronym for Digital Theater Systems is the name of the company that patented the sound system practice. DTS is considered to be the updated version of the traditional sound-on-disc technology used in the early days of movie theatres. DTS uses a special optical time code – a series of dots and dashes along the side of each movie frame flanked by the image and the analog optical sound tracks. A computer then controls the audio system with three CD players. DTS boasts of its scalable one stream technology along with all other features that will place viewers “in the action” and a “you are there” movie experience.
AMC Entertainment Inc.	Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS)
	SDDS was exclusively designed for motion picture cinemas. Sony is proud that this sound system has the only motion picture sound format of up to 8 channels of distinct, lucid, transparent, crisp, and vibrant digital sound, transmitted through its very own amplifiers/speakers. SDDS is intended to handle sound entirely in the digital domain to preserve sound clarity and to provide full dynamic range.
Kerasotes Theatres. LLC	Dolby Digital EX sound systems
	Dolby Digital EX sound systems are designed following the way the human ear processes sound; that is, when noise is close to the frequency of an audio signal, the same audio signal will automatically mask the noise so that the human ear will only hear the intended audio signal. Just like the way an artificial intelligence works, huh! Dolby Digital gives five full-bandwidth channels for real surround sound quality – front left, front right, center, surround left, and surround right. LFE channel or a low frequency effect is also provided for the movie’s special effects and action sequences.

Need to say more?

 

Listening to: You're The Inspiration by Chicago
Feeling: moody

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Living a Solitary Life...
POSTED AT 08:58 AM in My Life and what's left of it... as a favorite post

Merriam-Webster came up with a great definition of the word when it published that Solitary means (1) being or living without companions, (2) going alone, (3) saddened by isolation, and (4) being a prisoner apart from others.

As I contemplated on the word last night, I realized this must have been how it feels to live a solitary life. I live by myself with no one to accompany me in this journey. I am alone and yes, lonely. I've been enduring this kind of life since then, since I discovered that to get love, you should beg for it. I'm not much of a beggar, so I'm not getting much.

Listening to: Take a Look Inside My Heart by David Benoit
Feeling: depressed

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My Associated Content Account
POSTED AT 11:06 AM in My Life and what's left of it..., Writing for sanity's sake

Yey! I was able to publish an article in Associated Content! I'm really thrilled.

As you have probably noticed, I am a frustrated writer. My account in that content site just proves it. I only have one published content though. I'm crossing my fingers for the other 8 articles that I've submitted for review.

Well, writing for Associated Content seems to be a good way for me to plunge into writing. I'm still in the process of looking for enough inspiration to write my book. I can't seem to focus on it and I easily get tired, so I think I have to look for a site that will keep my mind off the book for a while, and Associated Content just gave me that!

Associated Content is an open site for content writers or publishers (or frustrated writers like me) wherein anybody from around the world can join. All CPs (Content Producers) will be given free reign on topics and content format. Their topics/categories range from arts, automotive, business, education, legal, news, politics and more! Well, I'm now a CP myself, and the site also gives me the right to facilitate my contents' activities and how I want to display it to advertisers and other readers.

Not only that they'll give us the opportunity to publish articles (just like tabulas, where I was given the chance to create this blog and post anything I want), Associated Content will also allow us to earn from those contents! Hmmm.. that explains why the site has got hundreds of thousands of CPs and contents in their library!

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and create an account in Associated Content! It'll be worth your time and effort...

Listening to: Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney
Feeling: blank

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