Mr and Mrs Perfect on the Judging Panel

Judgmental is not stating an opinion or even labeling something as "good" or "bad". Being judgmental is when based on one quality of someone or something you conclude about his whole nature, about all his other qualities. You judge his wholeness based on one aspect.

When I was young and negative (lol), I used to judge people by the way they talk, interact, and look. Looking back, I realized why I had been like that: because I am worse than them. Plain and simple.

I was judgmental 'cause I am masking the fact I am an easy target to begin with. I was insecure of my own self that I vent these all out subconsciously to other people I secretly hate because they remind me of how 'miserable' I was.

Rihanna Over The Years And Why She Doesn't Have a Number 1 Album

With just 7 years in the business, Rihanna has sold 20 million albums and 60 million singles. She's the youngest female artist to have scored 11 number 1 singles (including features) in Billboard Hot 100. Surprisingly, Rihanna has had to get her #1 album, and her most recent release Talk that Talk failed to garner her that record.

Personally, I neither like nor dislike Rihanna, she's harmless; she's great in Radio, her tunes are ear-friendly, and her lyrics are catchy (ela-ela-ela...). To commemorate Ms Fenty's reigning success over the years, here's a highlight of her best albums and their chart prominence.

 Music of the Sun (2005)

Release Date: 26 August

Billboard 200 Peak: #10

#1 Singles: None

The album is a clever mix of reggae, ballads, and urban beats, as evident in the If it's lovin' that you want song. Rihanna over the radio is a fresh encounter as her voice has a raspy sound to it, which is perfect for her Badian-meets-mainstream branding.

First 'Made in Brazil' iPhone Comes to Light

I dunno why, but I've been interested with world economy lately; reading about the recession, spending hours in businessweek.com, comparing India's and the Philippines' BPO standing, and monitoring how China is owning everyone's lives after wrestling those Japanese to becoming the world's number 2 economy. 

Speaking of which, I was browsing Macintude, (I have been touring around Mac sites lately as a preparation to switching to it next year, hopefully), when this article came across me and brought instantaneous surprise:

First “Made in Brazil” iPhones apparently being released into the wild

The first iPhones to be assembled in Brazil are apparently being released into the wild, carry a distinct “industria brasileira” instead of the regular “Assembled in China”.

MacMagazine, a Brazilian site, shared images of a white, 8GB iPhone 4 model that carries both the aforementioned message in Portuguese, as well as a model number that carries “BR” at the end of it, indicating that’s it’s likely to have been produced in a Brazilian factory, instead of a Chinese one.

Comparisons with the Son of Neptune

After I finished reading the Harry Potter series, I felt at a loss by the thought no other books could excite me book wise again. I tried reading Potter-esque novels, like Septimus Heap (meh), Batimaeus Trilogy (decent), and Artemis Fowl (ok), they were good but not great in immersing me over to their stories.

And then came Percy Jackson, and it was all over. My reading was pumped again, and I finished the 5 books in a month (though it lacked the re-reading charm I have come to experience with Potter, its humor and story nevertheless makes up for it). I am really glad the author, Rick Riordan, made a spin-off series called The Heroes of Olympus.

I read The Lost Hero fearing it wouldn't live up to my expectations, and to my relief, it did! Last month, I bought its second installment The Son of Neptune, and I couldn't wait to read the third book next Spring (The Mark of Athena).

How To Handle Intimidation?

None is exempted in the fields of intimidation, but everyone can turn it into something positive. In my case, height is my problem. I mean whenever I see those basketball studs sporting in the mall, and we're in the same lane, I got embarrassed.

But that was like 5 years ago (Hormones are finally working and I'm just an inch short to my desired height). I realized back then why I was not endowed with such gene, because I couldn't handle the expectations to tall guys; you have to be sporty and the likes, which I'm minimal at best.

And then, I realized the three secret ingredients to overcoming such negativity.

1. Acceptance

It's not easy as 1-2-3. It doesn't mean that you have given up, it's just you accepted certain things are not meant to be. Only with acceptance can there be peace with yourself. Accept that you won't be as good-looking as the other guy; accept that your talent is different from his. Accept that popularity is not everything. Accept that you accept yourself for what is it and what it's not.

The Writing Monsters Inside Us

Any aspiring author would tell you how exciting and hard it is to sit and face the prospect of writing. Sharing to the world your heart and soul, your fears and, subconsciously, your secrets is a daunting journey. Yet, the passion inside you, like a roaring ball of fire, dwarfs these negative emotions and you’re off to writing that story.

Mine started back in the summer of 2002, after I finished reading this book about a wizard and thought it's missing these elements I have come to expect from witchcraft novels. Before I knew it, I had grabbed a catleya notebook and started scribbling the first three chapters in one night, not knowing what the story would be or who the characters would be on it. My hands just started moving on its own. It's weird because I have this feeling the moon, somehow, triggered my writing to work.

I was not the good writer, nor the good reader (Encyclopedias are the only books that could keep my attention). I despise reading these texts without pictures, and so, I never dreamt, in eons, I could actually write a book.