Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

January 13, 2010 at 12:05 pm (Books)
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

I picked the complete set of Percy Jackson and the Olympians as one of my wishlist items last Christmas. I was very happy to find out that my parents were very interested in it after they saw the trailer for the upcoming movie (The Lightning Thief) because it meant the chances of them buying me the books became greater. Well, they did want to buy the books. The problem? Apparently, the movie made the books popular and caused the books to be sold out in all the local bookstores. But I’m grateful that my parents are going to buy the complete set (actually, we were already able to buy the 1st, 3rd, and 4th books) because I’ll have a copy of the books. Because of the current fame of the books, and because of how great the books are, I thought I’d take this time to create an entry to recommend it to everyone.

For those who don’t know about the series, it is a series written by Rick Riordan where

The gods of Olympus are alive and well in the 21st Century! They still fall in love with mortals and have children who are half-god, half-human, like the heroes of the old Greek myths. Could you be one of those children? Join the adventures of Percy Jackson and his modern demigod friends as they fight mythological monsters and the forces of the titan lord Kronos.

Source: http://www.rickriordan.com/index.php/books-for-children/

There are five books in the series (along with a number of accompanying books to supplement the series) and it’s a wonderful series for children and for the young-at-heart. For those who love fantasy stories and especially those who have always been fascinated by Greek mythology (like me) this is a great series to read. I find it a quick read (but that’s because I read kind of fast) but it’s very entertaining.

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The Sorceress by Michael Scott

January 12, 2010 at 5:12 pm (Books)
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The Sorceress by Michael Scott

Currently Reading: The Sorceress by Michael Scott

The third book Michael Scott’s The Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel series is the Sorceress which picks up where the last book, The Magician, left off. The series is about the famous alchemist Nicolas Flamel and his wife Perenelle, guardians of the codex of Abraham the Mage and seekers of the twins of legend. In comes Sophie and Josh Newman who turn out to be the twins of legend and are now being hunted, along with the codex of Abraham the mage by Dr. John Dee, Flamel’s former student who now works for the Dark Elders. The Dark Elders need the twins of legend and the codex of Abraham the Mage to return from the Shadowrealm and reclaim their power over the Earth.

Here is a short introduction to The Sorceress and found on Michael Scott’s official website (and as found on the inside sleeve of the hardbound book):

Nicholas Flamel’s heart almost broke as he watched his beloved Paris crumble before him. The city was destroyed by Dee and Machiavelli, but Flamel played his own role in the destruction. Sophie and Josh Newman show every sign of being the twins of prophecy, and Flamel had to protect them and the pages from the Dark Elders.

But Nicholas grows weaker with each passing day. Perenelle is still trapped in Alcatraz, and now that Scatty has gone missing, the group is without protection. Except for Clarent-the twin sword to Excalibur. But Clarent’s power is unthinkable, its evil making it nearly impossible to use without its darkness seeping into the soul of whoever wields it.

If he hopes to defeat Dee, Nicholas must find an Elder who can teach Josh and Sophie the third elemental magic-Water Magic. The problem? The only one who can do that is Gilgamesh, and he is quite, quite insane.

I haven’t finished reading the book, in fact, I’m just on the fifth chapter, but I’ve loved the last two books, The Alchemyst and The Magician. I’ve always been an avid reader of fantasy books and I really would recommend this series to those ages 10 and above. The series contains a number of references to different folklore and is a great way to learn more about different myths and legends. The series is composed of six books and the fourth one is set to be released sometime this year.

Hope you have fun reading if you do decide to try and pick up the book. :)

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J-Drama: Liar Game

January 12, 2010 at 4:48 pm (Anime/Manga, J-Drama)
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Liar Game; Erika Toda as Kanzaki Nao and Matsuda Shota as Akiyama Shinichi

Toda Erika and Matsuda Shota in the J-Drama, Liar Game

The current J-Drama I’m watching right now is called Liar Game, which was introduced to me by my sister, toekneeduh. It’s based on a manga of the same title, written and illustrated by Kaitani Shinobu. It’s categorized as a psychological thriller and has bits of comedy and romance (if you squint and really want there to be XD).

Here’s the plot, as stated in the Liar Game Wikipedia page:

Nao Kanzaki, an honest and naive college student, receives 100 million yen (about $1,000,000) and an invitation to participate in the “Liar Game Tournament”. The aim of the game is to trick the other players out of their hundred million dollars. At the end, the winner gets the hundred million and the loser is a hundred million yen in debt. She discovered her opponent was her elementary school teacher, Mr. Fujisawa. When Nao was easily tricked into giving her opponent the 100 million yen, she asks Shinichi Akiyama, an ex-convict and genius who recently got out of jail, for help. Though Akiyama was reluctant at first, he agrees to help on the condition that he takes half of the 100 million yen as his reward.

Akiyama succeeds in taking all the money and winning the game for Nao. However, Nao and Akiyama’s success at the Liar Game is far from over as they get dragged back in the game each time. Though initially unwilling participants, the pair choose to continue in the game in order to discover the true nature of the organization involved and to try and free other participants from the Liar Game.

It’s something I recommend to those who are looking for J-Drama’s to add to their list of watched J-Drama’s and love mystery and a good psychological thriller. I admit the show is kind of old (it was released last 2007) but it’s a good watch if you haven’t watched it yet. Matsuda Shota, the actor who plays Akiyama Shinichi, was in Hana Yori Dango while Toda Erika, the actress who plays Kanzaki Nao, was in Code Blue and in Nobuta wo Produce. The second season is currently being aired and a movie is set to be released sometime this year.

So, if you haven’t watched this series yet, then I really recommend you watch it (as long of course as this is your kind of thing, otherwise, I won’t force you). I’m actually going to try and read the manga after I finish watching the series because the plot is so awesome. Anyway, enjoy! :D

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Technology Article: 1 in 3 laptops die in first three years

November 23, 2009 at 9:53 pm (Technology)
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1 in 3 laptops die in first three years
Christopher Null: The Working Guy

So your new laptop computer died in inside of a year. "I’ll never buy a computer from [insert manufacturer name here] again!" I’ve heard the protests time and time again.

Yeah, maybe you got a lemon, but no matter which brand you bought, you truly are not alone in this situation: An analysis of 30,000 new laptops from SquareTrade, which provides aftermarket warranty coverage for electronics products, has found that in the first three years of ownership, nearly a third of laptops (31 percent) will fail.

That’s actually better than I would have expected based on my experience and observations on how people treat their equipment.

SquareTrade has more detailed information (the full PDF of the company’s study is available here) on the research on its website. But here are some highlights about how, why, and which laptops fail:

> 20.4 percent of failures are due to hardware malfunctions. 10.6 percent are due to drops, spills, or other accidental damage.

> Netbooks have a roughly 20 percent higher failure rate due to hardware malfunctions than standard laptops. The more you pay for your laptop, the less likely it is to fail in general (maybe because you’re more careful with it?).

> The most reliable companies? A shocker: Toshiba and Asus, both with below a 16 percent failure rate due to hardware malfunction.

> The least reliable brands? Acer, Gateway, and HP. HP’s hardware malfunction rate, the worst in SquareTrade’s analysis, is a whopping 25.6 percent.

None of the numbers are overly surprising. As SquareTrade notes, "the typical laptop endures more use and abuse than nearly any other consumer electronic device (with the possible exception of cell phones)," so failures are really inevitable.

Want to keep your notebook running for longer than a few years? Ensure your laptop is as drop-proofed as possible (use a padded bag or case, route cords so they won’t be tripped on, lock children in another room), and protect it as best you can from heat and dust.

 

Source: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/154921

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

October 20, 2009 at 7:07 pm (Books)
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 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone fighting against you?

Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

WINNING WILL MAKE YOU FAMOUS. LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.

 

This is the latest book I’ve read, which I was influenced to read by a book review I read on the internet. It’s a wonderful book with a plot that keeps you gripping on to your seats. I swear I couldn’t put the book (well, in my case, iPod Touch because I was reading an e-book) down. The story is a bit like Battle Royale in which the children are required to fight to the death as a means of quelling rebellion (I’m not sure about Battle Royale but I’m pretty sure the Battle Royale was also cooked up by the government).

It’s a YA book and I really can’t recommend it to younger children because of the violence in the book. But the story touches on more than the character’s struggles to survive the death match she has been chosen (sort of since she volunteered but with good reason) to participate in. I recommend it to people who love to read and possibly to those who don’t since the book is so filled with action that I doubt you’ll ever be left bored while reading. I’m going to read the next installment in the series, Catching Fire, after I finish tackling all my academic requirements for this semester. Enjoy.

♥ Eceined

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Finish Last

October 18, 2009 at 11:02 pm (Inspirational, Lyrics)
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During the homily in mass today, despite our parish priest’s usually boring sermon, I was reminded of this song. Father Jorge’s sermon was all about how everyone seemed to vie for the top spot, whether it be in politics, business, or the community. His message brought this song to mind and I think that this song speaks of how we should look at life. Enjoy.

Finish Last
by Stellar Kart

People change and plans get changed and
Everything changes but You
Everybody moves around and
Everything gets pushed around but You
You always stay the same, stay the same

[Chorus:]
I wanna finish last
Last in the world’s eyes
No matter what I do
I will be first in your eyes

I am running in this race and
I am pressing onwards towards the finish line
You have promised me a better life
Far beyond this world
Far beyond this place in time

[Repeat Chorus:] (x2)

People change and plans get changed and
Everything changes but You
Everybody moves around and
Everything gets pushed around but You
You always stay the same, stay the same

[Repeat Chorus:] (x3)

I wanna finish last
In their eyes

♥ Eceined

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Fasting

April 14, 2009 at 5:16 pm (Inspirational)
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I found this little “article” posted on the bulletin board at the entrance of St. Francis Church last April 11 (Black Saturday). It’s all about fasting, since Holy Week was ongoing but this article shows a different way to look at fasting. I wish I could have found it sooner so that this post will be more relevant but what the hey. I really like it and I would love to share it too everyone.

 

A Different Approach to Fasting…

Fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up food or television. But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus’ healing touch.

Here are some suggestions you might want to consider.

1. Fast from anger and hatred. Give your family an extra dose of love each day.

2. Fast from judging others. Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.

3. Fast from discouragement. Hold on to Jesus’ promise that He has a perfect plan for your life.

4. Fast from complaining. When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.

5. Fast from resentment of bitterness. Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.

6. Fast from spending too much money. Try to reduce your spending by 10% and give those savings to the poor.

 

I know this post is pretty late considering that Holy Week just finished, but I think that this is still significant and applicable in our daily lives. I believe that if everyone, regardless of their religion, can learn to abide by these simple “fasts”, then the world would be a more peaceful and happy place to live in.

Anyway, that’s all for today. Until next time everyone. :)

♥ Eceined

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Dito Sa Koro

March 11, 2009 at 2:34 pm (Lyrics)
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My sister and their school’s chorale joined the Korus Klef competition, organized by the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. This song was their obligatory piece and was written by one of the tenors of the UPCC. I feel in love with the song because of it’s beautiful lyrics and upbeat tune. Here’s the lyrics of the song, Dito Sa Koro.

Dito Sa Koro
Music and Lyrics by Manny Aquino
Choral Arrangement by Ronald Dolor

Nagsimulang mag-aleluya
sa gilid ng simbahan
Sumapi dun sa high school choir
gamit namin ay lumang gitara
Mula nung bata pa, alam ko na,
hilig ko kumanta nang kumanta

Pagdating sa colegio
sumali sa malaking koro
Kahit puyat sa pag-aral
dunadaan ko na lang sa dasal
Di ko mapipigil, di ko matatanggihan
ang tawag ng masayang kantahan

Chorus:
Dito sa koro, dito ang barkada
Dito sa koro, and tunay na pagkakaibigan
Dito sa koro, dito ko natuklasan
ang pag-ibig sa musika

Dito sa koro, dito ang sayawan
Dito sa koro, dito ang kanchawan
Dito sa koro, dito ko natikman
ang tunay na kasiyahan
Ha ha ha!

Di niyo kami mapaghihiwalay
pag may racket kasal, party at lamau
Mura lang ang bayad po
Konting pantaxi, sandwich at pang-coke
Medyo mahirap nga pero okay lang
Tuloy kanta kahit nga pautang

(Chorus)

Payo ng magulang ko
Ang koro ay pambalanse sa buhay mo
Huwag mong kalimutan ag may musika
Ang mundo’y tuluyang masaya!

(Chorus)

As a side note, I totally believe that the Don Bosco Makati’s chorale, Boschorale should’ve won. Not only did they sing their songs well but their performance was also very entertaining. Anyways, I’m going to go now. Until next time everyone. :)

♥ Eceined

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Stolen from Kelly: Stress Management Tips from the Masters

February 25, 2009 at 9:09 pm (Stolen From)
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Stolen from Kelly’s Multiply and Kelly’s LJ:

Just in case you are having a rough day, here is a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological tests.

The funny thing is that it works.

1. Picture yourself near a stream in the mountains.

2. Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air.

3. No one knows your secret place.

4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called the world.

5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.

6. The water is crystal clear.

7. You can easily make out the face of the person you are holding under the water.

See. You’re smiling already.

♥ Eceined

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Stolen from Tateen: Written By a Guy

February 23, 2009 at 10:11 pm (Chain Letters)
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Stolen from Tateen’s Multiply:

We don’t care if you’re friends with other guys. But when you’re sitting next to us, and some random guy walks into the room and you jump up and tackle him, without even introducing us, yeah, it pisses us off. It doesn’t help if you sit there and talk to him for ten minutes without even acknowledging the fact that we’re still there. We don’t care if a guy calls OR TEXTS you, but at 2 in the morning we do get a little concerned. Nothing is that important at 2 a.m. that it can’t wait till the morning.

Also, when we tell you you’re pretty/ beautiful/ gorgeous/ cute/ stunning, we freaking mean it.Don’t tell us we’re wrong. We’ll stop trying to convince you. The sexiest thing about a girl is confidence. Yeah, you can quote me.

Don’t be mad when we hold the door open. Take Advantage of the mood I’m in. Let us pay for you! Don’t "feel bad". We enjoy doing it. It’s expected. Smile and say "thank you."

Kiss us when no one’s watching. If you kiss us when you know somebody’s looking, we’ll be more impressed.

You don’t have to get dressed up for us. If we’re going out with you in the first place, you don’t have to feel the need to wear the shortest skirt you have or put on every kind of makeup you own.

We like you for who you are and not what you are. Honestly, I think a girl looks more beautiful when she’s just in her pj’s. or my shirt and boxers, not all dolled up.

Don’t take everything we say seriously. Sarcasm is a beautiful thing. See the beauty in it. Don’t get angry easily. Stop using magazines/media as your bible. "Don’t talk about how hott Chris Brown, Brad Pitt, or Jesse McCartney is in front of us". It’s boring, and we don’t care. You have friends for that.

Whatever happened to the word "handsome"/"beautiful"? I’d be utterly stunned by a girl who greeted me with "Hey handsome!" instead of "Hey baby/ stud/ cutie/ sexy" or whatever else you can think of. on the other hand I’m not saying I wouldn’t like it ether.

Girls, I cannot stress this enough: if you aren’t being treated right by a guy, don’t wait for him to change. ditch his sorry ASS, he’s a disgrace to the male population and find someone who will treat you with utter respect.

Someone who will honor your morals.

Someone who will make you smile when you’re at your lowest.

Someone who will care for you even when you make mistakes.

Someone who will love you, no matter how bad you make them feel.

Someone who will stop what they’re doing just to look you in the eyes….and say "i love you" ..and actually mean it.

—0—0—0—0—0—0—

I got this from Tateen and though this is actually part of a “chain meme” (not a chain letter since this isn’t really a letter and would be more appropriate as a meme), I just took the part which I really liked. The rules for this were supposed to be that guys who agree would repost this with the title “Girls should realize that” and girls who like this would repost with the title “Written by a guy” but you don’t really have to do so. But you’re free to repost this if you want to.

Anyways, that’s all really. I’m going to go now. Until next time everyone. :}

♥ Eceined

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