For Your Entertainment

As they say, if you can't be rich through business, do it via entertainment. You wouldn't believe how much people would pay just to be entertained (Manny Pacquiao, iPad, Jersey Shore, FIFA, etc). This week's entertainment talks of my three most outstanding platforms, Music, Anime, and Books.

Ingrid Michaelson - Human Again
 
Whenever I get sick of pop, rock, or dance tunes, I listen to Michaelson to refresh the decaying soul. When I first heard her 'Breakable" song, I knew I had to search for the artist and download her albums. I'm glad I did, and today, I get to listen full to her latest release Human Again. Looking at iTunes Chart, I'm glad to see her #1 as the most downloaded album for four days now. Imagine Sara Bareilles, Jewel, Regina Spektor and Alanis Morrisette blended and served as one; you'll get the distinct sound that is Michaelson.

I thought Michaelson's best was with 2009's Everybody, until I listened to Human Again. I am glad she's not that popular yet as I get to enjoy her as a closet band. Closet bands are those musicians you want to share with your girlfriend, but not with your guy friends.

Does Not Playing Sports Make You a Total Loser?

Sports is something all guys should be good at for two main reasons: 1. If you want to attract women, playing sports is the arena to show your potential as a mate; it is natural in the animal world, 2. If you want lots of friends, sports would give them to you effortlessly (this is why the school jock wins Mr Popularity by default). 

Unfortunately, people seemed to have forgotten not everyone is competitive or courageous enough to be anyone's entertainment. And in case you're wondering, yes; chess and other mind sports don't pose as attractive as their action-packed cousins. People watch sports because it's physical. We want to see actions and someone getting hurt.

4 Hard but Very Effective Ways in Destroying your Competition

The world is tough. Competition is everywhere. For girls, you hear the usual banter about beauty, boyfriends, and sibling rivalries. For guys, they're usually girls, sports, and who's the Alpha. Petty stuff for some, but it's safe to say most people had been in the situation where competing is necessary in order to advance in life. 

From the early stages of the first child getting threatened by the arrival of the second brother, to friends competing for another friend's attention, the road is hard for those who exert extra effort to rival those naturally gifted with attributes that makes life for them a piece of cake. 

Change yourself, for the better

While staying true to yourself proved to be a hot selling theme in teen movies, reality does not synch with their feel-good motives. In today's overtly competitive world, one needs to be updated and on the continuous move to reach desired targets. Don't believe 100% of those people who have these nasty attitudes and say they won't change because they're being REAL, when in fact, they're just being plain lazy. 

For starters, if swearing is common as breathing oxygen to you, then start minimizing it. Instead of that foul nasty four letter word, just try to say the first letter when the urge comes (Yes, even with your toenails hurt and there's a sweet roaring need to swear, you mustn’t!). For FaceBook enthusiasts, cut down 15 minutes of the time you spend on FaceBook daily. By next week, make it 30 minutes. The results are surprising!

Why Class Prophecies Should Be Discontinued

If you're anyone like me, then you're still fusing over how the class prophecy predicted your future very wrong.

I could still remember how the 'future' was molded on how much we existed in the writer's memory. While most of the girls were awarded registered nurse futures, boys were, predictably, predicted with a seaman caption. 

Geez. Even in high school, conformity was a disease, an invisible malady which only the sick could see. 

Most of the friends of the class prophecy's writer had been awarded classy titles, such as Ambassadors, Chemists, Actors, Business Tycoons, and those careers that would make anyone want to jump fast forward to that future.

With Norah Jones Striking Tunes

Music is one of my personal escapes when the world feels so heavy. Unlike most of my contemporaries, I go to jazz (rather than acoustic) to relax. Norah Jones, of course, tops my list. 

After the Grammy winning and 10-million selling Come Away With Me, I have followed Jones's career and downloaded all her albums. All of her songs are amazing. However, here are the 5 that tops my fave Norah Jones tunes:

5. Chasing Pirates

Lifted from her 4th album The Fall, pirates' first impression was a departure from the synonymous first single I have come to expect from a Norah Jones album. I gotta admit, I didn't like The Fall at first, but after a few spins, I have come to like it, particularly this single. Great as a background while your prepping for a light dinner. Great with coffee times, too.

Of the Reasons Why Cheating is Good

Sad to disappoint those lovers who try to make cheating acceptable by convincing themselves it's not cheating that they're doing, it's just trying other menus available, this post talks on dieter's cheat day. For others, cheat day comes off as a jargon, to fitness buffs, it's defined as a designated day where a person purposefully strays from their normal eating habits or meal plan. Cheat days are beneficial because they work as a reward for a strict adherence to a meal plan and they shock the body out of routine, preventing a plateau.

 
I posted at the beginning of 2012 that I will be undergoing a strict 20-day fitness and a diet routine. The first week of my 300 push-ups a day program was a success; I could feel my chest tightening, I could see my abs when inhaling hard (lol, but they're more defined, just waiting for the fats to go away), and my biceps are hardening very fast.

12 Destinations in 12 Months

Last year, I promised to list travel as my 2nd priority in 2012. Now, I am off to a great start in Boracay this January. While February meant Davao for me (some business conference, but hey, it's traveling!), Cebu will see me again in March due to a Hanson concert me and my sister will attend. That's 3 destinations locked in, and I'm not sure of where to complete the 9 remaining travels. 

I was lashing around the net, trying to get my muse to work when a foolish thought occurred to me: I typed my complete name on Google search. There's this link of an article I wrote a year ago, and it surely gave me an idea where to spend a visit in April.

Come To Donsol, Stay For The Butanding

While there are literally hundreds of holiday destinations in the country to choose from, beaches and theme parks are so predictable these days that they rob the excitement for those who seek a change from the usual, overused and overexposed itineraries. Deeming you have reached the point where being surprised is a thing of the past, then be surprised that there is still a place where you can relive the spark of anticipation: Donsol.

With the recent discovery of hundreds of whale sharks (locally known as Butanding) feasting in the plankton-rich waters of Donsol, the municipality has transformed from being an unknown town into a word-of-mouth staple among tourists exploring the country. The presence of the world’s biggest fish has impacted Donsol’s economy dramatically, for tourist arrival meant livelihood for the people and income for travel operators. 

Measuring from 15 feet up to 40 feet in length, the Butanding is the biggest fish in the world. The giant fish’s body is mostly grey, with a white patch on the belly area. Characterized by three prominent ridges running along each side of its body, the whale shark also has a checkerboard pattern of yellow spots and stripes.

The Butanding feeds on plankton and krill by straining these food particles from water. It is harmless, gentle and can be very accommodating, allowing people to swim and interact with it. The Butanding’s official season starts from February and up until the end of May. It is when the sea is clear and calm (just the way the Butandings like it).

Ousting Depression Via Unanimous Decision

Whoa! It's 2012, and welcome to the Critic's Choice's first 2012 post.

 
With the holidays over (and after a series of shameless eating bonanzas), most people have listed "Go on a Diet" as top priority on their new year's resolution list. It was great to imagine the results that soon will be reaped, pumping motivation to the brain and signaling the body to be prepared. 

And then, the demons come and drag us to hell, courtesy of sugary treats, junks, pork loins, cheeseburgers, and rice bowls. DAMN.

I've been there and I've done that. And I FAILED a couple of times. As diet is the toughest hindrance for me (I've never had any problems waking up 4 in the morning and do 200 push-ups and other exercises), the longest menu plan I've ever maintained had been a paltry 2 weeks.