A Late Cable Bill

Does Self-Improvement Work This Way?

2010-01-29T05:37:00.000-08:00

Having been in existence for more than two decades, I have met and talked to a lot of people that possess qualities and personalities that vary greatly from one another. I have been in the company of introverts and enjoyed the minimal exchange of words, the long silence which I appreciated a lot every time I needed peace and quiet. On the other hand, extroverts have never failed to bring out the spontaneous and outgoing me. All these experiences pushed me to try to figure out how and why people embrace certain characteristics, and how their attitudes affect their outlook and position in life.

While it is true that there is not one person who has the best of everything here on earth, anybody can work and persevere on being THE somebody he or she wants to be. Whether you were a geek who always got bullied in grade school or you were the quarterback who every girl in high school wanted to be with, the person that you are going to be ten or fifteen years later does not solely depend on your social status back then.

If you feel and believe that you can offer more to the world, improving some aspects of your being to become a better person should not be so difficult for you to do. Self-improvement is not only about looking better on the outside, but also involves working on your negative qualities, twisted beliefs and crazy outlooks to make everything about you exude a positive aura.

For many people, I know that it is not quite easy to stand up after being knocked down hard by life’s predictable unpredictability. I know change can not just happen overnight. But many people all over the world have proven that if you are focused and determined to bringing out the best you in you, making IT happen is not impossible.

Things That I SHOULD Accomplish in 2010

2009-12-29T06:12:00.000-08:00

For now, these are the things that I want to do in 2010. I will just add some more as the days go by.

1. Buy myself a new digicam/dslr.

2. Learn a new language.

3. Get a professional driver's license.

4. Go on a vacation abroad.

5. Buy a new laptop/netbook.

6. Watch at least one foreign language film per week.

7. Finish all New York job tiers.

Was Russell "Boston Robbed"?

2009-12-22T00:35:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a lot of reactions about Natalie winning Survivor Samoa. Some feel that she deserved it, while some think that Russell played harder and was more deserving of the title "Sole Survivor." Even Jeff Probst was pro-Russell (check out his blog).

Anyway, here's just one of the many Survivor Samoa articles that I've come across since yesterday. This is an interview with Russell Hantz.

You said at the final tribal council your chance of winning had dropped to 55 percent. Were you still that sure you had won?

It kind of shook me up. I knew I didn’t win because I can read people that good. It’s like, you try so hard for something, and when you hear you didn’t win it, it’s rough. I thought maybe there’s a shot, but I started thinking and thinking about it when I was home, and analyzing everything that everybody said, and I was like, ‘I didn’t win.’ That’s why I already opened the website, russellgotscrewed.com. That’s why it’s so impressive to know that John did vote for me and Shambo did vote for me because you da man if you can get stabbed in the back, turn around, and give that person the vote. That takes a strong personality.

At first, you were the most hated contestant ever. By the finale, you were the Fan Favorite. Is that because people began to understand your game play?

Everything I did out there was strategic, every single move — burning the socks, pouring out the water. Best move I made was pouring out the water and burning the socks! It’s a tough thing to do because when you do it, you can’t get caught because if you get caught, you’re going home. But I went in it with very aggressive play and I think it worked for me. I made it all the way to the end and I would never change anything about the way I played the game.

Did you have a plan in mind when you started?

You don’t know how you are going to play the game until you are out there because you have to evaluate the people that are around you. So when I went out there, I’d seen that I could manipulate them, so I took control of the game the whole time, from day one. As soon as we were able to talk when we got out to the island, I said, ‘Let’s get some bamboo,’ and you see me do it four or five times. Right then, I was trying to see whom I could trust. I couldn’t trust Betsy. I couldn’t trust Marisa. I knew I could trust Ashley for a little while. I knew I could trust Natalie the whole time. The physical game is good and all, but for me, it’s a mental game and you just control people. And it’s crazy how you can control people so easily.

Were you a fan of Survivor before going on it?

I had never been a fan of the show. I just never really watched it! I put my application in, never thought they would call me up, but then I watched the last all-stars, where Parvati won, then I fell in love with it.

What was it like to watch yourself on TV with your wife and twin girls?

I stepped out of who I was to play this game. That’s the thing, you step out of character to play this silly game and when you are back home watching it, you’re not in the game no more, but it’s on the TV, and your kids are watching it. When I called Monica what I called Monica on national television, I looked at my little girls and their mouths were open because they’ve never heard me say a cuss word in their life, because that’s the kind of dad I am. They’ve never even seen me cry. And the thing is, this was a tough thing, for them to tell me I didn’t win sole survivor.

Could you even believe what you were seeing?

It was like lasers coming out of my eyes. I was crazy-focused. I was shocked. Watching it on TV, I was saying, ‘I am working them, baby!’ I couldn’t believe it. I said to my wife, ‘I am really good at that game!’ I know I was saying it on the show, but I was just being cocky. Now, watching it, it makes me see that I am really good at this game!

You held on to your third hidden immunity idol when you didn’t play it the last time you could. Where is it now?

Oh, it’s in my game room. It’s in my game room with a picture of me finding it and the rules for it and the idol just sitting there!

Click HERE to read the whole article.

Top Songs of 2009!

2009-12-19T07:17:00.000-08:00

2010 is less than two weeks away! I have started visiting websites, looking for top 10, 20 or 100 lists of the best and the worst whatevers of 2009.

My first stop was the Billboard Charts, and here's what I got:

Billboard Hot 100 Top Songs of 2009

1 BOOM BOOM POW The Black Eyed Peas will.i.am/Interscope
2 POKER FACE Lady Gaga Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope
3 JUST DANCE Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O'Donis Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope
4 I GOTTA FEELING The Black Eyed Peas Interscope
5 LOVE STORY Taylor Swift Big Machine/Universal Republic
6 RIGHT ROUND Flo Rida Poe Boy/Atlantic
7 I'M YOURS Jason Mraz Atlantic/RRP
8 SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT) Beyonce Music World/Columbia
9 HEARTLESS Kanye West Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/IDJMG
10 GIVES YOU HELL The All-American Rejects Doghouse/DGC/Interscope

11 YOU BELONG WITH ME Taylor Swift Big Machine/Universal Republic
12 DEAD AND GONE T.I. Featuring Justin Timberlake Grand Hustle/Atlantic
13 YOU FOUND ME The Fray Epic
14 USE SOMEBODY Kings Of Leon RCA/RMG
15 KNOCK YOU DOWN Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo Mosley/Zone 4/Interscope
16 BLAME IT Jamie Foxx Featuring T-Pain J/RMG
17 I KNOW YOU WANT ME (CALLE OCHO) Pitbull Ultra
18 LIVE YOUR LIFE T.I. Featuring Rihanna Def Jam/Grand Hustle/IDJMG/Atlantic
19 KISS ME THRU THE PHONE Soulja Boy Tell 'em Featuring Sammie ColliPark/Interscope
20 DOWN Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne Cash Money/Universal Republic

21 THE CLIMB Miley Cyrus Walt Disney/Hollywood
22 BEST I EVER HAD Drake Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown
23 MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU Kelly Clarkson 19/RCA/RMG
24 HALO Beyonce Music World/Columbia
25 HOT N COLD Katy Perry Capitol
26 SECOND CHANCE Shinedown Atlantic
27 CIRCUS Britney Spears Jive/JLG
28 DAY 'N' NITE Kid Cudi Fool's Gold/G.O.O.D./Universal Motown
29 PARTY IN THE U.S.A. Miley Cyrus Hollywood
30 DON'T TRUST ME 3OH!3 Photo Finish/Atlantic/RRP

31 RUN THIS TOWN Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West Roc Nation
32 LET IT ROCK Kevin Rudolf Featuring Lil Wayne Cash Money/Universal Republic
33 FIRE BURNING Sean Kingston Beluga Heights/Epic
34 WHATCHA SAY Jason DeRulo Beluga Heights/Warner Bros.
35 LOVEGAME Lady Gaga Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope
36 WAKING UP IN VEGAS Katy Perry Capitol
37 BIRTHDAY SEX Jeremih Mick Schultz/Def Jam/IDJMG
38 SOBER Pink LaFace/JLG
39 WOMANIZER Britney Spears Jive/JLG
40 WHATEVER YOU LIKE T.I. Grand Hustle/Atlantic

41 OBSESSED Mariah Carey Island/IDJMG
42 MAD Ne-Yo Def Jam/IDJMG
43 GOOD GIRLS GO BAD Cobra Starship Featuring Leighton Meester Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic/RRP
44 LOVE LOCKDOWN Kanye West Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/IDJMG
45 SO WHAT Pink LaFace/JLG
46 HOTEL ROOM SERVICE Pitbull Mr. 305/Polo Grounds/J/RMG
47 CRACK A BOTTLE Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent Shady/Aftermath/Interscope
48 IF I WERE A BOY Beyonce Music World/Columbia
49 TURNIN ME ON Keri Hilson Featuring Lil Wayne Mosley/Zone 4/Interscope
50 I HATE THIS PART The Pussycat Dolls Interscope

51 GOTTA BE SOMEBODY Nickelback Roadrunner/RRP
52 PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME Pink LaFace/JLG
53 PAPARAZZI Lady Gaga Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope
54 BEAUTIFUL Akon Featuring Colby O'Donis & Kardinal Offishall Konvict/Upfront/SRC/Universal Motown
55 VIVA LA VIDA Coldplay Capitol
56 RIGHT NOW (NA NA NA) Akon Konvict/Upfront/SRC/Universal Motown
57 BATTLEFIELD Jordin Sparks 19/Jive/JLG
58 SUGAR Flo Rida Featuring Wynter Poe Boy/Atlantic
59 MISS INDEPENDENT Ne-Yo Def Jam/IDJMG
60 FIREFLIES Owl City Universal Republic

61 NEW DIVIDE Linkin Park Machine Shop/Warner Bros.
62 EMPIRE STATE OF MIND Jay-Z + Alicia Keys Roc Nation
63 NO SURPRISE Daughtry 19/RCA/RMG
64 SHE WOLF Shakira Sony Music Latin/Epic
65 BREAK UP Mario Featuring Gucci Mane & Sean Garrett J/RMG
66 SWEET DREAMS Beyonce Music World/Columbia
67 EVERY GIRL Young Money Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown
68 FALLIN' FOR YOU Colbie Caillat Universal Republic
69 UNTOUCHED The Veronicas EngineRoom/Sire/Warner Bros.
70 IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY Nickelback Roadrunner/RRP

71 THROW IT IN THE BAG Fabolous Featuring The-Dream Desert Storm/Def Jam/IDJMG
72 LOVE DRUNK Boys Like Girls Columbia
73 I LOVE COLLEGE Asher Roth SchoolBoy/Loud/SRC/Universal Motown
74 IF U SEEK AMY Britney Spears Jive/JLG
75 BIG GREEN TRACTOR Jason Aldean Broken Bow
76 WHITE HORSE Taylor Swift Big Machine
77 DISTURBIA Rihanna SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG
78 21 GUNS Green Day Reprise
79 TURN MY SWAG ON Soulja Boy Tell'em ColliPark/Interscope
80 ROCKIN' THAT THANG The-Dream Radio Killa/Def Jam/IDJMG

81 CHICKEN FRIED Zac Brown Band Home Grown/Atlantic/Bigger Picture
82 DIVA Beyonce Music World/Columbia
83 REPLAY Iyaz Time Is Money/Beluga Heights/Reprise
84 THEN Brad Paisley Arista Nashville
85 HER DIAMONDS Rob Thomas Emblem/Atlantic
86 HOW DO YOU SLEEP? Jesse McCartney Featuring Ludacris Hollywood
87 3 Britney Spears Jive/JLG
88 FOREVER Drake Featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem Harvey Mason/Zone 4/Streamline/Interscope
89 ONE TIME Justin Bieber Island/IDJMG
90 I RUN TO YOU Lady Antebellum Capitol Nashville

91 I DO NOT HOOK UP Kelly Clarkson 19/RCA/RMG
92 GREEN LIGHT John Legend Featuring Andre 3000 G.O.O.D./Columbia
93 PEOPLE ARE CRAZY Billy Currington Mercury Nashville
94 WHATEVER IT IS Zac Brown Band Home Grown/Atlantic/Bigger Picture
95 ALREADY GONE Kelly Clarkson 19/RCA/RMG
96 GOODBYE Kristinia DeBarge SodaPop/Island/IDJMG
97 SAY HEY (I LOVE YOU) Michael Franti & Spearhead Featuring Cherine Anderson Boo Boo Wax/Anti-/Universal Republic
98 POP CHAMPAGNE Jim Jones & Ron Browz Featuring Juelz Santana Ether Boy/Universal Motown/Columbia/E1
99 PRETTY WINGS Maxwell Columbia
100 NEVER SAY NEVER The Fray Epic

Source: Billboard.com

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Official Trailer 1

2009-12-06T18:34:00.000-08:00

Here's the official teaser trailer of the first part of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie, to be shown on November 19, 2010. The second part will hit the cinemas on July 2011.

Dh Preview One - Watch today’s top amazing videos here

Kripke Was On Glee!

2009-12-05T22:58:00.001-08:00

The Big Bang Theory's Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie in real life) was on "Mattress," last week's episode of Glee. He was the William McKinley High School's yearbook's photographer.

It was the first time I heard Bawwy Kwipke talk like a normal person, without that R-and-W speech defect that he has on The Big Bang Theory.

Examiner.com's Interview with Survivor Samoa's John Fincher

2009-12-05T01:28:00.000-08:00

I found another interview with John Fincher, this time on Examiner.com's website. Here's an excerpt:

Matt: Watching it now, what did you see on TV that surprised you the most?

John: My strategy going into it was that I could outthink and I could outwit these people and if I put myself in a position where I could get as close to accurate information as I could then I could make the best decisions possible. So I tried to position myself where I could get the most amount of information, so I haven't been surprised really watching this stuff go down. What was really entertaining, and that I wasn't privy to when I was out there, but Russell's pranks back at the Foa Foa camp: burning Jaison's socks, doing stuff like that....I wish I'd thought of that, but that was the one thing that was surprisingly entertaining.

To read the full article on Examiner.com, click HERE.

Survivor Samoa's John Fincher

2009-12-04T22:58:00.000-08:00

I found this John Fincher interview a few minutes ago on the LA Times' website. John's my bet on this season's Survivor, but, unfortunately, he was voted off the island last week. Now that he's gone, I'm rooting for Russell.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Because Russell turned on you, would you not give him your jury vote?
You can only betray someone when they give you their trust. I don’t feel any sense of betrayal and I don’t have any bitter sentiments toward anybody.

So you think Galu became weak because of the individuals on the tribe – not because they got cocky?
Everything is potentially impactful. But I think that we were just outgunned intellectually and Foa Foa understood the situation better than we could. I said Galu had a junior varsity “Survivor” strategy. At the merge, people wanted to vote off Jaison because he wasn’t doing a lot around camp, and I was like, “Man, you do not vote people off because they’re lazy.”

Why does everyone hate Shambo so much? Is she really that annoying?
Shambo can be annoying, absolutely. She’s someone that’s hard to work with. Shambo’s just different, and maybe I have more experience dealing with people that are different than I am. I really think that there was a malicious attack on Shambo from Laura, and it’s a case study in cognitive dissonance. Laura is this very Christian person and on day two, she said, “So, who do you think is the gay one? There’s always someone who’s gay.”

Who would you put your money on to take the game?
Let’s put my money on Jaison. He’s a smart guy who understands that Russell is a threat and is smart enough to do something about it.

Click HERE to read the full interview on the LA Times Blog.

Paranormal Activity's Different Endings

2009-12-02T03:15:00.000-08:00

I was able to get hold of a copy of Paranormal Activity yesterday. I have been reading a lot of good reviews about the film, so I was excited when the chance to see it finally came.

I watched the movie alone in my room at around 4 in the afternoon. I did not want to wait for the dark to come because even though I love horror flicks, I could not sleep for several nights after watching one. So, I spent the next 86 minutes in silence and deep concentration.

The most frightening scene for me was the one in which Katie was dragged out of bed by some invisible demon thing. Although I was never able to see how the demon looked like, the film really creeped me out. I wanted to sleep in my parents' room for days.

I also read about the alternate endings, so I looked for them on YouTube. The copy that I borrowed had the ending where Katie was shot by one of the policemen who entered the house.

Here's a clip of one of the endings in which Katie threw Micah's body at the camera.

Unfortunately, I could not find the video clips for the other alternate endings.

Life Is Just Blah Blah Blah by Andy Botwin

2009-11-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

The third episode of the fourth season of Weeds contains one of the most memorable Andy speeches ever. Here's the clip:

Michael Jackson Halloween Costume Ideas

2009-11-29T05:48:00.000-08:00

Dressing up as Michael Jackson has always been a popular choice for a Halloween costume. The King of Pop was famous for his many different styles, which are unique, recognizable and very distinctive, and that makes him a great choice for this fun occasion.

The Glove
A Michael Jackson costume is not complete without his trademark white or silver sequined glove. Just like a black cat custome has to have a tail or a witch costume has to have a pointed hat, this particular King of Pop get-up should really have the glove. You can choose between a white sequined or a silver sequined one. A simple white glove could also do the trick. Luckily, finding Michael Jackson gloves is not difficult because many costume stores have them.

The Red Pleather Jacket
Another recognizable MJ look is called the red pleather jacket look. In the eighties, he wore that tight red pleather jacket in the music videos of "Thriller" and "Beat It". To have a great effect, you can decorate the jacket with lots of functionless zippers, or cover the front with a big black V strip. Tight black or red leather pants plus boots that have large buckles should complete this look excellently.

If you do not have time to decorate your jacket, you can just visit any costume store and buy one from there. It might cost you quite a lot though. Try shopping around thrift stores because there might be something there that is good enough.

The "Bad" Black Jacket
This jacket was what Michael Jackson wore in his "Bad" video. It had a military look and was decorated with large golden badges and golden shoulder epaulets. Along with these, he had a gold belt with the word "Bad" printed on the buckle. In 1984, he wore a similar jacket on his visit to the White House.

The Thriller
"Thriller" is a perfect Halloween soundtrack, isn't it? And dressing up like Michael Jackson would make everything seem like you were in the award-winning music video. The easiest and cheapest way to get this done is to use some pasty makeup which has a yellowish or greenish shade. Use the same red pleather jacket, but torn it up to achieve the zombie look.

Other Accessories
If you want to do the moonwalk, the classic, wide-brimmed black fedora is your best companion. It is easy to find one, and it does not cost a lot. Dark glasses or a Michael Jackson face mask is also a good alternative for a Halloween costume.

Try to watch some old Michael Jackson videos so that you can think of new Halloween costume ideas.

Sheldon And Raj: Eye Of The Tiger

2009-10-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

This week's episode of The Big Bang Theory called "The Pirate Solution" has got to be the funniest ever. I never thought that the Sheldon and Raj tandem could produce such hilarity. The episode begins with Raj telling his friends that he needs to look for a job or else he will get deported. Sheldon comes to the rescue by asking Raj to work FOR him. Raj knows how difficult working WITH Sheldon can be. But because of desperation, he agrees to work FOR/WITH him.

Here's a clip of Sheldon and Raj working together. Notice how Eye of The Tiger fits the scene so perfectly. This cracks me up.

My Dogs

2009-10-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

These are just 3 of my dogs when they were still puppies. I am still looking for the photos of my other dogs so that I can upload them here too. Sadly, Zsazsa died a few months ago.
This is Dog.This is Ren.

This is Zsazsa.

Find Out If You Use Your Left Brain Or Right Brain More

2009-09-26T08:12:00.001-07:00

I got this from the Herald Sun website:

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic, detail oriented,
facts rule, words and language,
present and past, math and science,
can comprehend, knowing,
acknowledges, order/pattern perception,
knows object name, reality based,
forms strategies, practical,
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling, "big picture" oriented,
imagination rules, symbols and images,
present and future, philosophy & religion,
can "get it" (i.e. meaning), believes,
appreciates, spatial perception,
knows object function, fantasy based,
presents possibilities, impetuous,
risk taking

And here is my quiz result:

Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz
The higher of these two numbers below indicates which side of your brain has dominance in your life. Realising your right brain/left brain tendancy will help you interact with and to understand others.
Left Brain Dominance:	(10)
Right Brain Dominance:	(8)
Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz

To Buy Or To Build?

2009-09-16T23:28:00.001-07:00

I started collecting books when I was in grade school. Over the years, my collection has increased from about 5 or 6 books to over a hundred. They are all in my room, piled on top of a cabinet. I have been thinking about putting them all in a bookshelf. That way, I can arrange them in alphabetical order or by author.

I have looked at bookshelves sold in malls and they are not cheap. Some are made of wood and some are of plastic. I want something that is not expensive. I am broke so buying one of those now is not practical.

I thought maybe I could make one by myself. So I googled "how to make a bookshelf" and read some of the search results.

It appears that I need materials like drills, circular saws, hammers, screwdrivers, pieces of plywood, and so many other things. I would still have to research how much everything would cost me. Other sites suggest that I could use an old cabinet and re-do it to become a bookshelf.

I still couldn't make up my mind on how to proceed. Buying ready-made bookshelves would save me time and effort. Building one looks like fun. I already have the perfect design in mind.

Photography

2009-09-15T05:35:00.000-07:00

Photography is one of the most popular hobbies among people nowadays. There are a lot of things around us that deserve to be immortalized in photographs.

In order for you to get the best pictures, you should be aware of some of the basic tips and tricks of digital photography. And, of course, you need to have the right camera to use for the shoots.

Choosing the perfect digital SLR camera is one of the more crucial stages of getting into this hobby. Factors such as the lighting condition, exposure, focus, shutter speed and aperture are just a few of the things that need to be considered before clicking that button.

There are a lot of articles online that give detailed discussions on how to effectively take pictures and the basics of photography. These information will definitely be of great help to anyone who aspires to become a photographer.

The Dell XPS M1730

2009-09-07T00:07:00.000-07:00

This is Sheldon's laptop on The Big Bang Theory.

From what I've read, this model is most suitable for high end gaming. I want one!!!

Underwater Photos I

2009-09-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

These are just four of the underwater photos that I have. These were all shot in Davao.

I will upload more next time.

The Geeks Are Back!

2009-09-04T04:06:00.000-07:00

Yes! Sheldon, Leonard, Raj and Howard are back from the North Pole!

I wonder why Sheldon seems to be the least "furry" among them.

Watch for the premiere of The Big Bang Theory's third season on 13 September.

Man Bites Dog

2009-09-04T02:07:00.000-07:00

I have this list of great horror/suspense/thriller movies to watch before I die and I started downloading some of them just recently.

The first one on my list is Man Bites Dog. It is a French film (C’est arrivé près de chez vous) and starred Benoit Poelvoorde.

It is about a serial killer named Ben. A camera crew travels with him and gets first-hand experience of his crimes. They see him murder, strangle people, scare an old woman to death, rob somebody’s house, hit passersby, rape, and hurt kids. All of these they have on tape.

Most of the time, we see Ben talking to the camera, while planning or committing another crime, as if he is in an instructional video on how to successfully bake a cake. Sometimes, he will explain which ways are the most effective to kill a person.

What really awed me was that the camera crew sticks with him until the end even if their lives are at stake. They do not seem to mind that they are with a criminal and Ben can kill them too anytime he wants. I was also disgusted when Ben raped this lady and all the crew had their turns as well. Really sick.

This film is really dark but it has a comedic taste to it. It strongly reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies, Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, which has an almost similar theme to it. Very disturbing.