young at heart

theres something very captivating about the idea of reliving one's youth that makes YOUNG ADULT (YA) fiction very popular to readers.  i'd guess that there is a certain part of our childhood that stays with each of us until our adult years that somehow a glimpse of those slices of wonder and discovery drives us to escape into these windows of innocence.

YA fiction is a branch of fiction whose story revolves around young characters, usually in situations that would bring them to greatness amidst insurmountable odds.  in my quest to bulk up my cache of books in my collection, i have accumulated quite a number of them; attracted with the quick wit, action, drama and the fantasy that is still all too real from the eyes of these youthful characters.  most often than not, it is their naivete that lends them the strength to succeed.

LEVEN THUMPS by OBERT SKYE

im currently absorbed in this hilarious adventure of a 14 year old orphan boy who turns out to be an important character to a dreamland called FOO.  the pacing is fast, the words are witty and the situations are totally out of this world although a lot of the scenes are in our very own dimension. together with a thirteen year old girl who can control and create ice, a cute furry cat-like creature and a king who temporarily is a sliver of wood.  the formula of the story is new and totally entertaining...hahahaha... who can resist a strong, powerful and tall king who unfortunately is currently a toothpick.  priceless!

PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS by RICK RIODAN

adventure and action is what makes the percy jackson series tick.  from book to book (five in total) the unpredictability of the plot twists guides the characters into a situations weird and weirder.  a son of the sea god, POSEIDON, percy faces monsters and TITANS with a daughter of ATHENA, a CYCLOP halfbrother and a faun whose favorite food is an aluminum soda can.  one thing good about this series is it has reintroduced me to the gods and goddesses of greek mythology.  tsk tsk tsk, now, if only my literature class was this interesting.

SHIVER (and the rest of the series) by MAGGIE STIEFVATER

now, what made these book really popular was the earlier titles that introduced the genre to the public.  who among us would not recognize HARRY POTTER and the TWILIGHT series.  these two are undeniably the forerunners of the popularity of YA books.  not only were they made into movies (the current trend is transforming the books into blockbusters: currently playing I AM NUMBER FOUR, BEASTLY (March), MORTAL INSTRUMENTS (2012), etc.) but they paved the way for the genre to be read by adults as well.  one of the driving force of the interest is the emotions that pushes the characters into reality - foremost would be love.

what the twilight series did to vampires, SHIVER will do to WEREWOLVES.  the books not only  delivers the emotion, the pain of wanting to belong, the love that will bridge all odds.  watch out for the movie now in pre-production.

i love books, whatever genre, whatever age.  i might not be one of the characters in these youthful books but then again, as i read from page to page somehow i feel the age that i will forever be in.  young at heart!

i am number four (a review)

a common trend in movies is giving visions to words that have proven to be popular to readers, not only prompting them to watch and compare how their imaginations compare to that of the movie makers but also giving the opportunity to those less inclined to read the chance to share in the spectacle of how more "creative" people create worlds and circumstances that they otherwise would not have thought of.  in a few instances, the process is even reversed if a film has been popular enough that it deserved to be put into words.    in my remembrance, thats how it usually goes, never have i heard of a book optioned to be a film before it was published.  that is, until I AM NUMBER FOUR.

a novel of the same title written by james frey & jobie hughes (collectively known as PITTACUS LORE), it follows the story of a young man by the name of JOHN SMITH who turns out to be one of nine alien children gifted with extra-ordinary powers (no, those are not flashlights in his hands) and destined to save the world.  originally coming from the planet LORIEN, these nine children were scattered all over Earth with each a guardian that must guide them and hide them from the deadly MOGADORIANS set to conquer Earth after delivering Lorien to destruction.  the story is set in PARADISE, OH where Number Four aka John Smith struggles to stay anonymous after the death of Number 3 in the jungles of Kenya.

as a book, it kept me awake until I was done with the last page; including the first chapter of the next book in the series which is entitled POWER OF SIX set to be released August of this year.  (something i should not have done since I cant wait for it to come out - spoiler: its the story of SEVEN)  it had all the right ingredients of a well packed action and sci-fi with the right amount of mushy stuff inside.  and since then i had been dreaming of the scenes, the magic and the almost smallville-like discovery of power.

as a movie, its different.  the story is there, the action is there, and as movies from novels go - the magic.  i remember suddenly the outworldliness of harry potter, the mystery of narnia and the sweeping panorama of lord of the rings.  and like before, i forced myself not to compare what i see onscreen to the thoughts that i created when i was reading them.

as expected, some things were changed to fit into the media that is film.  but the more important stuff were kept and some were even added so as to be easier for those who were not fortunate enough to read the book.  from the death of number three to number four's discovery of his first legacy one cant help but be propelled like the story is pushed to its climax.  be amazed, gawk and be surprised ( i was surprised even if i knew what would happen next).  alex pettyfer {this 20 year old  british actor is set to be known as the novel prince; i saw him first as alex rider (2006) , he is set to be the beastly (March, 2011) , jace wayland in the city of bones,mortal instruments (2012), and talks are for him to play Peeta of the Hunger Games (2012)} shines in this film, though obviously older than the fifteen year old Number Four of the novel, the movie was adjusted to fit him perfectly.  the rest of the cast does not fail either.  Callan McAuliefe, the young australian actor playing Sam will be an actor to look out for, and NUMBER SIX totally sizzles.

as for the other aspects of the film, its all there; effects, suspense and a totally to die for soundtrack (some parts of the film plays like a music video - awesome!)

for the most part I AM NUMBER FOUR, both book and movie is highly recommended.  a word of advise though, i'd rather you watch the movie first then read the book.  you'll enjoy both all the better.

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sarap or sakit...

indie films have repeatedly been described as glimpses of life as they should be viewed by realists.  they are but slices of the different personal histories that continue to happen unendingly right before our eyes, though often we tend to disregard them as mundane and ordinary - unfit to be viewed and discarded as bland.  these art films are really only voyeuristic scenes cut and edited to recreate the obvious and most probably forgotten.

too often, we see and empathize with indie film characters simply because they are but reflections of our own lives given the larger than life medium of cinema and for those still within the confines of dark closets, the privacy of still rooms with the tv audio turned way down; repeatedly watching out for glimpses of dicks and other private appendages that have always been the come on.  but then again, we get so immersed with the stories that we get carried away and memories of stolen times remind us that these scenes could have happened or are realities to us.

brod, a movie on fraternities and a love that blossomed between a pledgee and a master screams of this truth.  as the need for the closeness of the brotherhood stems from a subconscious need of acceptance and a lack of male attention.  though others may negate this observation, still what other purpose has a man have to submit himself to the pain of the journey in order to be deemed worthy and of equal stance with other men seeking the same.  to others it may not be physical as what transpired within the minutes of the film, but then deep down, souls still shout, "brod, may nararamdaman ako!" if not spoken aloud its nevertheless heard.

from a viewer's observation, the film is stirred by the script, well-written with a knowledge of how fraternities work.  as somebody with my own memories from within the close knit circles of brotherhoods, the movie took me back to stolen moments of male bonding and the raw male emotions of hurt, anger and suppressed feelings.  the need for recognition and the will to succeed despite odds too mountainous to consider present in each.  the closeness and shared histories more often pushes one to the warmth of the brother's embrace.

the scenes, the painful realities of what we hear about the initiation experience are shown; although the bruises are much more devastating in real life. (paddle bruises are not only reddish but purplish black bloodied slab of soft flesh, not only at the back of the upper legs but calves as well).

direction was subtle but tight in a way that the seamless chaos of the scenes placed not in the order of when they happened became but a necessity to understand it all. the cast were not mere actors struggling with lines but delivering them with the emotions needed to convey what the audience must feel.

several time best actor kenjie garcia of lihim ni antonio fame has finally erased for me his antonio persona.  deep, angst ridden but totally open, he has come out of the shadow of his teen coming of age character and delivered the necessary blow that propelled brod into my notice.  and as i have been always saying, "sana magmainstream na sya".  for sure, this actor still have a lot to offer and brod has given him one more feather to his cap.

tadeo, was equally intense.  ardie bascara, or basti moreno to some reminds me of piolo pascual in lagarista.  given the opportunity, this guy will totally blow us away one of these days.  in brod, he was confused, determined, soft, edged, and a dreamer.  the confusion that his character feels towards the end sums up the movie's voice.

the rest of the actors are equality there within the movie and not just shadows trying to read through the lines of the script.  paul jake paule is both witty and painful to view, marife necessito is awesome!

the ending might be a little predictable but never does it fail.  even with the pre-though of how it will end, it does not prepare us for the hurt that we will feel towards the final black out.

to some, the promise of a dick shot will probably push you to watch; and yes you will see some but then if you but take a little time to listen and lend your heart for a bit then you will say once the credits roll in na oo naghahalo palagi ang sakit at sarap.  which emotion will you choose?  sa huli ang masasabi ko lang, "brod, naiintindihan kita!"

in the realm of the fantastic

books are and have always been windows that have taken me into the lives and worlds that are described within the pages.  not a few times have i found myself too immersed in the stories that i read that i completely forget the present and exist inside for that moment.  my mind adds sound, atmosphere and little details that are otherwise not given by the author.

maybe its this reason that my genre of choice has always been fantasy.  i remember way back when my mom used to read to me bulfinch's mythology, the iconic lord of the ring series in high school and discovering the creatures of narnia in college during the 90s.  of course, the more recent world of hogwarts and harry potter is joy cut short much too soon.

what i love about these worlds are the realism behind them.  yes, realism.  i would always equate a great fantasy when the worlds and those that inhabit them are much too real to be considered as make believe.  for sure, this is the main reason that most of these titles have been made and are continued to be made into movies.

the fantasy/scifi genre for fiction is a myriad collection of these universes and alternate realities that are each fantastic in their own rights.  and in each of them are characters and ideas that are both different and mirrors of our own.  from the dragons of anne mccaffrey's dragon of pern series to the gay herald mage character of mercedes lackey, to the rodents of redwall of brian jacques; however unbelievable, they take us in because somewhere there are emotions, situations and places that remind us of our mundane world.  

i love all these worlds.  in fact, there is not one among them where id say no to an invitation to visit again.  but of all these, these are the top 5 that i would gladly live in.  

*i wont even consider middle earth of J.R.R. Tolkien, Narnia, Hogwarts and the rest of the more popular ones since i'd think that with the movies and the hooplah about them, they'd be too over crowded with humans to be exciting for my taste, hehehe

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS by CASSANDRA CLARE

several months ago, i chanced upon a boxed set collection of three books while lounging at powerbooks in megamall.  not familiar with the author, i bought a copy of the first book; City of Bones since I was intrigued by the tattooed torso in the cover.  a week after, i had all three in the series.

The Mortal Instruments series is an urban fantasy set in modern day US.  It tells the story of the Shadowhunters, a band of special individuals gifted with extraordinary gifts.  The story talks about angels, nephilims, demons and all there rest of the creatures from the pages of fairy tales.  In fact, it even had a rat that became a vampire.  

Jace Wayland and Clary Fray has completely taken me in that I cant even wait for the fourth book out in April of this year.  And watch out, a movie with Alex Pettyfer and Lily Collins is in the works!

The Mortal Instruments titles are The City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass.  City of Fallen Angels is the 4th book.  A prequel series The Infernal Devices whose Book 1, The Clockwork Angel came out late last year is almost as good.

THE SECRETS of the IMMORTAL NICOLAS FLAMEL by MICHAEL SCOTT

fresh from my find of the mortal instruments and having to wait for the next book in the series, i browsed the titles on the bookshelves, choosing books based on instinct and on how i feel about the book cover (yes, especially for the genre, book covers matter a lot) and found The Alchemyst, the first volume in this work that totally blew me off.  

initially set in san francisco, the story chronicles the chaos that happens to a set of twins when they discovered that they are not who they thought themselves to be.  in company of nicolas flamel (yes, the very same nicolas flamel mentioned in the novels by jk rowling and apparently is a real person from history), a wizard, sophie and josh newman soon discovers and gets to meet and encounter entities only real in stories from greek, roman, egyptian and any number of mythologies.  

the story is fast paced and is full of action and movement.  in fact, to those more inclined to the more action-packed genre of fiction; the writing style feels much like da vinci code by dan brown. 

like the previous series, these books: alchemyst, magician, sorceress, necromancer and the forthcoming titles were also optioned to be made into movies.

THE WHEEL OF TIME by ROBERT JORDAN

i don't only buy books from the major bookstores.  in fact, my person is a constant fixture in any number of booksale or books for less branch all over the metro.  my new favorite is bookayukay in quezon city where i just found some missing titles to complete some of my series collections early today. 

during one of these visits, another cover got my attention.  the eye of the world, book 1 of the 14 volumes in the wheel of time series.  honestly, while reading this i totally felt i was back in middle earth but with little differences in the feel like going from one city to another in the same province.  

although the action sequence or the plot development is repetitive in each of the books, i was never the less taken into the heart of rand al thor and his being the dragon reborn.

it took me three months to finally have a copy of the first eleven books and the prequel book in the series.  book 13 and 14, written by another writer after the demise of robert jordan is to be out soon. 

THE RIFTWAR SAGA & THE SONS OF KRONDOR by RAYMOND E. FEIST

another epic fantasy series that i totally dug out of the mountain of thrift books are the titles within the rift war saga and the succeeding series, the sons of krondor.  

i was able to read this series a very long time ago when i had a friend who would loan me his books during the times i could ill afford to rent one.  now, i have almost all the titles with the exception of the newer ones that i plan to buy as soon i can finish the other books that i have recently purchased.

the riftwar saga takes place in two worlds both very much like our own if not of the existence of magic and the creatures that were "invented" for this world.  and while as all epic fantasies are alike in the broad scope of almost-nomadic main characters go, this one surprises the readers with each title  in the series.

pug, the driving character in the first two books, magician:apprentice and magician:master is a common and recurring character in all the books including those just newly published.

a graphic novel of this work is out as well.

SANDMAN by NEIL GAIMAN

now this next series are not even books.  

a collection of graphic novels with art done by selected artists, this 11 volume work chronicles stories and life glimpses of the mythological being sandman.  the lord of dream, as he is called presents tales and wonders as only neil gaiman can deliver.  nuff said.

there are a lot more authors, series and books out there. in fact, i dont consider my choices here as my permanent choices.  works by ursula le guin, eragon and the inheritance series by paolini, the percy jackson books by rick riodan, pittacus lore's i am number four and the lorien legacy series etc. are great works that have found permanent spaces in my own private library.  and my choices might not be yours but let me share this with you, there are two keys to the realm of the fantastic; good authors and good imagination.  can you enter?

inked

Man has always been a vain creature.  Since recorded history, humankind has always been on its own personal quest to beautify one’s self.  Clothes, jewelry and other accessories were discovered foremost to enhance one’s look.  And since then, body art designs gradually emerged as one of the improvements one does for beautification.

            Body art designs aka tattooing has been around for thousands of years.  Recent archaeological findings suggests that as early as five thousand years ago, man has been using the tattoo as a symbols or rank, seniority, personal amulets, symbols of rights, devotion, religion and strength or trophies of deeds.  Certain tribes and ethnic groups developed their own uses and meanings behind these body art designs.

            The name as we know it now, “tattoo” was first used around 1769 and was based on the Chinese words “Ta” meaning to tap and “Tao” meaning to mark.  Then, the art was done using a sharp comb-like object dipped in lampblack and tapped all over the body to produce geometric designs that signifies different meanings depending on ethnicity. Around this era, the use of body art was considered a norm if not a necessity around the areas of Japan, Egypt, China and the rest of Polynesia.  From these countries and regions the art travelled to Europe and the rest of the world.

            From its beginnings, the body art designs of tattoo has undergone major changes.  Nowadays there different types of tattooing based on design and types.  Mostly, it is used aesthetically the world over.

            Polynesian body art designs are probably the nearest designs that we see in modern times that would mirror those of the ancient tattoo styles.  Polynesia, meaning many islands is a term used to describe a group of islands spread within the Pacific Ocean region.  They include Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand, Tonga and Tahiti.  These tattoos are characterized by large, often black geometric shapes and symbols.  In former times, these symbols often describe personal achievement and history of the wearer.  Today, they are often more decorative than symbolic.

            Oriental body art designs are distinctive to the Chinese and Oriental culture.  Although a lot of other Asian designs are common such as the Japanese tattoo designs, it is the Chinese that has developed a more marked style.  It is quite common to see Chinese character tattoos and oriental creatures in common day inks.  In fact, the most popular of body art design fauna, the dragon started its existence as an oriental symbol of strength and good luck.  Another common design is that of the Koi, a fish believed to be a symbol of luck for the Chinese people.

            These two body art designs though the most common and striking in modern times are not the only ones in use.  In fact nowadays there are a myriad set of other tattoo categories.  Traditional or old school designs are easily recognizable as body art designs.   Usually worn by bikers and sailors they are remnants from a time when tattooing was considered a fad and was frowned upon by American society.  These are usually characterized by faintly applied, simple iconic art depicting hearts, doves, skulls and naked ladies.

            Today, society is more accepting of tattooing as body art designs.  People from all walks of life and from all cultures sport often a mixture of available styles.  Nowadays, ink has evolved from symbols and status representation and could be of any meaning; more importantly they are a badge of courage and a mark of personal design.

hot and sweaty

online writing surprisingly is very education...in order to create truthful articles, one has to research the topic well...here is my first assignment and will be the only one i'll ever post...

Sweating is a part of daily existence.  As humans, sweating or perspiring is a natural way for our bodies to regulate our temperature and is also a means for us to expel certain toxins that have invaded our bodies.  This is normal and is experienced not only by individuals but by all mammals in the animal kingdom. 

Sweat, the product of this bodily function is mostly of made up of water, salt and other minerals that our body needs to excrete as part of its normal process.  This liquid exits our bodies through pores after being produced by sweat glands that can be found underneath our skins.  The number of the sweat glands differs among men and women and it is generally accepted that there are more sweat glands in females compared to males.

We sweat as early as right after being born but this becomes more apparent at the onset of puberty when a lot of chemical and physical changes happen to the body.  During this time, one of the most common problems that we experience is the fear of body odor; although sweat itself is typically odorless, its presence can trigger certain bacteria in the body to smell.  It is a shared concern to stop excessive sweating.

Hyperhidrosis, the medical term used by professionals to describe the condition of excessive perspiration than what the body needs to regulate temperature is an embarrassing situation to be in.  Although it mostly happens during adolescence, it can go on until adulthood and is not only located on the underarms but could be facial, on the hands, feet and groin area.

Excessive sweating is a disorder and could be very uncomfortable for the patient.  A situation that most of the time is worsened since the discomfort only tends to have the sweat glands secrete more perspiration.

There are secrets to help stop excessive sweating. From new scientific and medical breakthrough to time tested herbal practices, these tips will not only aid you in minimizing if not totally curing the condition but will also teach you tricks on cleanliness and food types that will help.  And now that you know the basics of sweating, tomorrow learn the proper hygiene and the diet that may trigger the disorder.  Stay interested, this may change your life.

_____________________________________

Hi,

            Now that we know that sweat is a natural bodily function to help regulate the body’s temperature, let me share with you some secrets on how we can control and minimize the embarrassing disorder that is excessive sweating.   Yesterday, I mentioned that one of the best practices that we could develop for us to combat hyperhidrosis is good physical hygiene.

            Since we cannot stop our bodies from doing its normal task of eliminating sweat, it is greatly encouraged to practice good personal hygiene so as to minimize the amount of sweat that remains on the body at a certain time.  Let us remember that although sweat is odorless, bacteria present on the body can be the source of body odor.  One secret there is for us to take at least a minimum of two showers per day using antibacterial soap not only to clear away the deposited sweat but also to prevent the increase of bacterial build-up.  More showers if you engage in more strenuous activities. As part of the hygiene ritual, the use of antibacterial deodorant is also important (more on deodorants later).

            Now, once we have begun the habit of cleaning our body more let me share with you some of the food and drinks that can trigger excessive sweating.  As perspiration comes from the body, this could be affected by whatever we ingest.  Contrary to what some might say, there are food and drinks that affect the way we perspire.  Hot food can make you sweat more simply because they increase body heat prompting the sweat glands to secrete more for the body to cool down faster.  But apart from that, chili and other spicy food not only increase the production of sweat but also leave a strong odor.  Coffee and its main component caffeine prompt the heart to beat faster hence faster metabolism and more perspiration.  Another is the consumption of alcoholic drinks.  Alcohol dehydrates the body usually because one urinates a lot while drinking but then it also prompts the body to sweat more; that is why the skin feels warm to the touch when a person is intoxicated. 

            These are but two of several more secrets to stop excessive sweating.  Tomorrow learn about sweating remedies that has proven effective the world over and know how it will change the way you live.

______________________________

Hello again,

            We now know that excessive sweating can be controlled and minimized by time tested secrets both traditional and scientific.  The first defense to make sure that we not put ourselves to any embarrassing situations concerning this condition is proper personal hygiene and inhibiting ourselves from food and drinks that trigger our body to sweat a lot.

            Since sweating is a natural occurrence in any mammal, this condition affects different societies as well; usually with their own way of dealing with the disorder of excessive perspiration; and because different races have different staples for food and the difference in weather and climate, these groups of individuals learned to develop their own ways of minimizing the effects of hyperhidrosis.  These secrets could just be what you need.

            Asia, a continent of diverse cultures is home to an eclectic collection of traditional cures for any illnesses.  The Chinese have always been known to be the forerunners of medical practices that are very much different from the West yet, have been proven time and again to be effective in treating a lot of the known sicknesses.  In fact, a lot of our more scientific treatments come from their own studies.  In China and in a lot of the countries in their region, the use of acupuncture in the areas within and around the armpits has done wonders to those that have had the unfortunate experience of excessive sweating.  Also, it is common to see the use a powdered form of the mineral called “Alum” as deodorant, not only to control perspiration but also to minimize the chance of body odor.  In the Indian region, people whose diet consist of more spices; hygiene, deodorant and the use of certain herbs like Sage and White Peony Root are used.

            In the other parts of the world, other practices are being utilized.  In the Amazon a tropical shrub locally known as picho huayo is said to be used as a fragrant mask rather than a deodorant but still they believe it fights excessive perspiration.  

            For us more modern societies there are our own way of stopping excessive sweating, both herbal or traditional and scientific or medical.  Though others might have these mentioned methods work for them, tomorrow learn about the herbal ways that will work for you to stop excessive sweating.

__________________________________

Hi there,

            The use of herbal medicines has always been a part of the medical processes that people the world over has employed to cure conditions and disorders that have plagued them.  They have been a time tested way to combat complaints of patients.  For hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating, there are a number of proven herbs and plants that has helped in minimizing if not curing too much perspiration.  Not only are they effective but they are completely natural, painless and devoid of any side effects.

            Sage, as mentioned previously, is a small-sized minty shrub commonly seen in the Mediterranean and is used as a household kitchen spice.  Medicinally, it has other uses other than for excessive sweating and is used as an anhidrotic, antibiotic, antifungal and as an astringent among others.  Sage made into tea has been known to be used a cure.

            Astragulus, another herb commonly used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant helps in controlling sweat.  It could either increase or decrease perspirations as needed.  Also, it has been proven that astragulus could be used as a antibacterial aid.  The root is used medicinally.  In fact, it is now available in many forms including tincture, creams, tablets and injectibles.

            Tea Tree Oil, another commonly used medicinal plant extract is another effective herbal medicine for excessive sweating.  Australian aborigines have since then used the leaves of the tea tree as cures for skin cuts, burns and other infections.  It has also been proven effective as an aid for minimizing perspiration.  Not only that, it is mildly antiseptic and deodorizing hence it helps for foot sweating and athlete’s foot.

            While these plants and some others generally help to stop excessive sweating, there are a number of plants that should be avoided if one has the condition.  Cinnamon, Ephedra, Green Tea, Japanese Mint, Juniper berries, Kudzu, Red Cedar, Sassasfras, and Yohimbe are a few that should be avoided.  Use of these herbs and plants tend to worsen the production of sweat.

            Going herbal is just one of the many options to combat excessive sweating.  Read back tomorrow to learn on the new trends and new discoveries both scientific and medical on how to stop excessive sweating.

           

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these are but four of ten articles written in a series and as you might have thought its all about sweat and sweating...thanks for reading and sweat it all out! :) 

eternal summer

being important does not always mean being loved.  oftentimes, our importance to a person stems from their need of acceptance and our own availability to be there when necessity calls for our presence.  the partnership creates a bond that links both to that particular present and sometimes transcends into something else.  in most cases, the link stays for the rest of their existence.

i have never really been a fan of asian series.  those korean/taiwanese melodramatic/comedic shows that have since become a staple to our small screen diet since meteor garden.  in fact, i have not seen one of them in its entirety much is my penchant for more meaty fare.  i have always thought of them as bland, with blank staring faces and long, slow moving panoramic shots of mostly silent characters only showing exotic locales and sweeping emotion provoking music.  that is their style.  for sure, these are popular if not effecting in reshaping our personalities today.  but sometimes, there comes an instance that our own beliefs change or we happen to experience an episode in life that makes us think twice on our norms.

today, i think i stumbled on a realization.

being on a "restday" for my night-shift job, gave me an opportunity to watch online movies and for no apparent reason, i found myself watching a 2006 korean movie entitled "eternal summer".  a film about friendship, love, importance and being one's self.

jonathan the main character is in love with his bestfriend, shane; on the other hand, shane is the boyfriend of the girl jonathan said no to.  shane cannot let any of the two go, jonathan can't say how he feels to shane.  carrie, the girl, knows everything.

so what really happens?  does importance mean love then?  would shane's attachment to jonathan, his only friend of the longest time teach him to love beyond gender?  would jonathan's fear of being shunned suffice more than what he feels?  or would they both sacrifice so as to be true to themselves?  what goes beyond their feelings?

i found myself in the film.  not in one character nor in one situation.  but in the collection of confusing thoughts that shout out the clarity of what the movie feels.  i was jonathan, i was shane, i was even carrie.

i dont really consider myself changed and has suddenly become a fan of these foreign language works, what i do know is that; what i feel and what you feel might just be what we see through the vision of these almond eyed characters we see on the small screen. in fact i'm ready for more.

growing a city

like the romans from centuries past, we all have our own dreams of conquering; be it our fears, our aspirations and yes, other people.  these inner wants have time and again manifested in our dealings with day to day life.  maybe, this seed of a conquer is the driving force that feeds our own private obsessions.

nowadays, an innumerable collection of online games keep us busy.  the dream of conquering has manifested once more in seemingly harmless games of spreading our own domains to make it the widest and the most crowded if not the most prosperous among the gamers the world over.  i'm talking about word of mouth games that one usually finds in facebook. personally, for me it started with farmville and now the even more popular cityville.

honestly, i am hooked.  but not as hooked as some others who spend real hard earned money to purchase points so as to keep up with the rapidly changing applications that we view as destressors of our own mundane existence.  we hear people on the metro, the buses and anywhere else talking about hurrying home so as not to have their "crops" withered, gifts to open; oftentimes without even a regard to "real" issues.

i have nothing against these games, in fact i am equally addicted.  exchanging sleep so as to keep up with the next expansion.  but still, i view it as it is - a game.  hopefully for much longer. sometimes, we convince ourselves that what we engage ourselves to while away the time are the same ones that drive us even closer to the brink of what we know not.  let us just be careful that what we believe are the little things that de-stresses will not be the same thing that takes away what we hold dear.

until the next expansion and i'll appreciate a zoning permit!