So You Think You Can Dance Vs. American Idol

So You Think You Can Dance (Season 5) rocks! The show is just oozing with skill and talent. Dancers for season 5 were such good dancers that it made the show really hit the top. What makes me love the show more are the judges... they're truly adorable! They have wit, a great sense of humor, technical know-how... and I feel as though most of what they say has a lot of meat in it. I can't say the same for American Idol though. And Ellen to be the 4th judge on the next season of AI...? What the...? She's a host and knows very well how to talk... but judging on American Idol? Where have all the star singers gone?!

Things to look for in choosing your new apartment

The love of my life and I recently got married and moved into a rented apartment. We chose the place particularly because it had good flooring, high ceiling, a good rate, and the location was accessible to public transportation and within the vicinity of most of our peer groups. What we didn't notice were other stuff that I would like to share, which you might find helpful:

1. Neighborhood - All our neighbors consists of morning people. They make loud noises in the morning and are in their beds at around 8pm. Early huh? Yuppies like us are just the opposite =). We also have a neighbor who makes regular animal-like sounds at different times of the day. We think he/she may be deranged to some extent =O. Lastly, we have a neighbor that smokes a lot of the time.

2. How the house holds itself during heavy rains - you don't usually notice this when you visit a prospective place to stay--unless of course you're making rounds during heavy rainfall. You may want to check for leaks or drainage and roof problems. This will save you from a lot of hassel come the rainy season.

Smoking is Bad for Your Neighbor's Health

I am not a smoker. Smoke from cigarettes for me is as offensive as the stench of Durian to my nostrils... of course, not to mention that smoking is B-A-D for your health. Of course its a known fact that smoking can be addictive and that once hooked, one consumes packets and packets of it in a day.

I recently got married and live in a new neighborhood. We have a neighbor who lives in the apartment next to us who we see everyday doing only three things: smoking, sipping coffee, and hand-washing clothes in front of their unit. There is a tall building in front of our apartment block so whenever he smokes, the smoke has no where else to go but through the windows and into the house. We have already talked to him nicely about it... and he obliges by moving away--but after a time, the smoke is there again. We smell the smoke early in the morning, late at night, even after midnight, in the afternoon, both on the first and second floor of our apartment.

If people want to smoke, then fine, its their life and they can do whatever they want to do with it. But the line stops when there are other people around while they smoke who do their best to take care of their health. Secondhand smoke (SMS) they call it. It does even more damage to health than the effect of actually smoking.

Isn't it bad enough that we live in one of the most air-polluted city in the world?

Obama's News Conference on the U.S. Economy - February 10, 2009

Just a few minutes ago I was able to witness U.S. Obama's live news conference via CNN. He is the first US President I have taken an interest to, mainly because a lot has been happening to the US Economy that is affecting the world today. He began his speech by frankly describing the state of the US Economy today. It's depressing to note that unemployment rate could go from 4+% to 15+% in one of the states in just a matter of months. The US Economy needs a jolt, he says. The Private Sector at this point in time needs intervention from the government. An expansionary movement is needed to create jobs--one of the most pressing needs of the Country.

I could rant on and on about what I admire about his speech, but of course there's a more detailed account of this in the news. With the world looking to see what America would do, I just hope that their plan of action would be effective to turn the economy around. I am not an American, but one cannot deny that their economy affects the world--and my own country at that.

The Beauty of Mac

If you're sick and tired of having to update virus definitions or do a periodic scan on your PC, I suggest you switch to Mac or Linux. I personally prefer Mac 'coz aside from not having to deal with the worry of viruses that plague the internet, its easier to use once you get the hang of it. The search feature is great! you won't have to worry about forgetting where you saved a particular file. Just key in the title or some keywords within the document, and it shows you selections instantly! Plus, popularity of Mac's in the country is growing... more and more Mac centers are made put up and the price is getting more competitive too. I can drone on and on about why I'm in love with Mac...but i guess it will take up the entire page of my blog. To view its other commendable features, just browse their website: http://www.apple.com/.

Its a bit disappointing for gamers however--a lot of games and other applications are still unavailable for Mac OS. You can still run those games on your Mac using Parallels or VMWare, but its just not the same. The popularity of the PC is still evident but not unrivaled.

Most--if not all of the Mac users I know would never go back to using a PC. That in itself speaks a lot don't ya think? ;o)

Favorite Hang out places along Tomas Morato

1. Starbucks Coffee

If you’re up for a chat with good friends and want it to go with good coffee and a cozy ambiance, Starbucks is the place to be. There are 2 Starbucks outlets along Tomas Morato—one is right beside Imperial Palace Suites near the junction of Timog Avenue, while the other one is near the Bank of Commerce, near the corner of Dr. Lascano St. The latter is more spacious and consists of two floors, plus it has the advantage of a relatively reliable internet connection. The people behind the counter are very friendly and work fast. If you take a good look at the people frequenting the place, a lot of them are nursing students who study for long hours.

Coffee at starbucks is really good. Also, according to a health conscious friend of mine, the calorie content of the fraps aren’t that bad either. Although buying coffee there is definitely more expensive than buying snack food a grocery and having friends over at your house, the price of goods at Starbucks is quite competitive with other similar stores.

My personal favorites:
Pastries: banofee pie, caramel Belgian waffle
Cold Coffee: Iced caramel macchiato
Hot Coffee: Café Mocha, Peppermint Mocha (Christmas Drink—but they took this one out for this year and replaced it with Dark Cherry Mocha! =( huhu!)
Frappucino: Chocolate Java Chip, Espresso frap




2. Kitchen of Cakes and Coffee (KoCCo or KCC)

Now if you need a bigger table with good lighting, free wifi access, and food that's good for meals and snacks, KCC is the place to be. This relatively new addition to the cafes along Morato is located besides Kozui and in front of Interlook. This is our favorite hang out place when we go out with friends to play dutch blitz. There is a homey feel to the place which makes you feel comfi right away. The crew is very friendly and most of the times the service it not that bad either. What I like most about it is that it offers a wide array of goods, from snack food to meals and deserts. They have coffee buns, pastries, bread, fraps, hot drinks, cold drinks, pasta, rice meals, etc.

My personal favorites:
Food: Seafood Chowder, Chicken in cream sauce,
Beverage: Montezuma (hot chocolate)

High School Musical: Room 77

One of the highlight events of my high school life is a musical we did entitled "Room 77." It was really neat! To the side of the stage was the choir and on the stage there were the actors/dancers. The musical basically focused on the lives of 3 very different people going to the same school and their encounter with God in room 77. I've managed to get the lyrics for some of the songs but I found it very difficult to get the lyrics for all of them.


1. Here We Go Again

2. Nothing Ever Happens in this School

3. Don’t Blame Me

4. Try Honesty

5. Is there a Harbor?

Water into wine
Weeping into laughter
In another time--Another age
Healing of the blind
Stillness from disaster
Lookin for a sign we turn the page

And the pressures of a reckless society
Are enough to make a strong man's knees go weak
And the questions from the masses
Filled with anxiety
seem to be sayin'
You can hear them prayin'

Chorus:

Is there no harbor?
Is there no resting place?
Is there no refuge--no quiet sound?
Is there no lighthouse?
Is there no peace be still?
Is there no anchor to higher ground?

Some days I can find
Power for the hour
On the battled line against the rage
Confidence is high
Like a mighty tower
Still I question why
Do I have these weaker days
And will retreat become my battlecry tonight
No, no I can see the revelation
And it's bringin' the Truth to light

There is a harbor
There is a resting place
There is a refuge--a quiet sound
There is a lighthouse
There is a peace be still
There is an anchor to higher ground


6. The Peace that Passes Understanding

Seasons of my soul they come and go
But as they slip away I know
Something else remains that will not change
Places in my heart are torn apart
But in my brokedness I find
Something stays behind that will not change

Chorus:

The peace that passes understanding
Is a blessing that will never fade away
The peace that passes understanding
Is here to stay
The peace that passes understanding
Never passes away

Lord in times alone my heart has known
The quiet words of your tender love
And your gentle touch that changes me
Even through the storm I'm safe and I'm warm
For you have covered me with grace
In your hiding place I am at peace

Peace comes like the dawn
Peace like the world can't understand
You take my hand and I stand
Though others may fall


7. Don't Keep It a Secret

8. Would I know You Now?

Would I know You now
If You walked into the room
If you stilled the crowd
If You light dispelled the gloom
And if I saw Your wounds
Touched Your thorn pierced brow
I wonder if I'd know You now

Would I know You now
If You walked into this place
Would I cause You shame
Would my games be Your disgrace
Or would I worship You
Fall down upon my face
I wonder if I'd know You now

Or have the images I've painted
So distorted who You are
That even if the world was looking
They could not see You--The real You

Have I changed the true reflection
To fulfill my own design
Making You what I want
Not showing You forth divine

Would I miss You now
If You left and closed the door
Would my flesh cry out
"I don't need You anymore"
Or would I follow You
Seek to be restored
I wonder--I wonder
Will I ever learn
I wonder--Would I ever know You now


9. Friend of a Wounded Heart

Smile, make them think you're happy
Lie, and say that things are fine.
And hide that empty longing that you feel
Don't ever show it, just keep your heart concealed.

Why are the days so lonely?
I wonder where, where can a heart go free?
And who will dry the tears that no one sees?
There must be someone to share your silent dreams.

Caught like a leaf in the wind
Looking for a friend, where can you turn?
Whisper the words of a prayer
And you'll find Him there, arms open wide, love in His eyes.

Chorus:

Jesus, He meets you where you are
Oh, Jesus, He heals your secret scars
All the love you're longing for is Jesus
The friend of a wounded heart

Joy, comes like the the morning
Hope, deepens as you grow
and peace, beyond the reaches of your soul
Comes blowing through you
For love has made you whole

Once like a leaf in the wind
Looking for a friend, where could you turn?
You spoke the words of a prayer
And you found Him there
Arms open wide
Love in His eyes


10. We Need Each Other