Static and Silence

Blogger will be sporting a new look soon...

2011-03-19T23:54:00.000+08:00

I just saw this while exploring my Blogger buzz. Fantastic! (with Nacho Libre's accent.) Impatience is kicking in. =) It's enough to kick start my blogging.

Teaser Tuesdays: Happy Ever After

2010-12-28T19:23:00.000+08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
1. Grab your current read.
2. Let the book fall open to a random page.
3. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.
4. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from, that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given.
5. Spoilers not allowed! XD

My last Teaser Tuesday for 2010! This book used to be in my Waiting for Wednesday list. When I saw a copy in Borders, I immediately bought it. I don't have any regrets. Here's a teaser.

"She's happy, and she's confused. A lot of things make Parker happy. Spreadsheets, for instance, and for mysterious reasons. But very little confuses her."

p. 198, Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

What's your last teaser for the year? For more Teaser Tuesdays, please visit: Should Be Reading.

Monday Movie Meme: Ticket to Paradise

2010-11-29T17:40:00.000+08:00

What better way to jumpstart my blogging than to participate in the Monday Movie Meme!

This week's topic is all about movies that transport us to another part of the world or another place in time. Whether set in a beach, stunning cities or places of retreat, these movies make us want to hop on the next available plane. If money is not an issue, I'll make sure I have villas or properties in these places.

· Under the Tuscan Sun / Letters to Juliet

Set in the country where I want to settle for the rest of my life - Italia! The vineyards, the villas, and the cobbled streets are just some of the reasons that make me want to watch these 2 movies over and over again. Bellisima! And oh yeah, Italian men.

· Heartbreaker / Julie & Julia / Da Vinci Code

I'll be ten times the fool if I will not include France in my list-of-places-to-visit-before-I-die. The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, french bread, french pastries and french kiss... those should count right? Paris Je'taime!

· Into the Blue / The Beach / Fool's Gold / Couple's Retreat

Who can resist beaches? I definitely can't and won't. The perfect way to unwind is by going to the beach and lounging on the white sand. Bean bags, mats or hammocks, any of them will do. The movies above are all set in different tropical paradises. Royal Over-water Pool Villas? Enough said.

· Mamma Mia / Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

Ancient ruins, crystal blue waters and Greek men. Those are explanation enough.

· Just Like Heaven / Mrs. Doubtfire

The view where Reese Witherspoon's character watched the children playing is amazing! Those steep streets and the famous cable car are just one of the attractions that I want to see once I'll get the chance to visit the US. We shouldn't forget the Painted Ladies. Is it possible to buy one of those houses?

· Sex and the City

Carrie should be elected as the ambassador of New York City. She makes me want to live in New York, specifically in that apartment that she and Mr. Big didn't take.

For more Monday Movie Meme, please visit The Bumble's Blog!

Thoughts from a taxi ride...

2010-11-04T20:17:00.000+08:00

I didn't know which was worse: Dizzy because of the jerky driving of the cab driver or listening to the tacky local song being played in the radio. It could have been worse. I could be stuck inside a small room full of people and everyone farted at the same time or I could be stuck in an overnight boat ride and the ship is being tossed by the waves, then motion sickness hit and I threw up for 6 straight hours. Oh wait, the latter did happen! Errr... that was worse! Oh. motion sickness!

Thursday 13: Top 13 Most Played Songs in iTunes

2010-11-04T12:30:00.000+08:00

It's been quite sometime since I last posted here. More than a month! Really? I better get back in the wagon and start off with Thursday 13.

I'm doing again the Top 13 Most Played songs in iTunes.

Top 1: Revelation Song - Jesus Culture (164 plays)

Top 2: Cosmic Love - Florence + The Machine (115 plays)

Top 3: Never Said Anything - Steve Strait (110 plays)

Top 4: These Roses - Gin Wigmore (104 plays)

Top 5: The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson (104 plays)

Top 6: Happier - A Fine Frenzy (103 plays)

Top 7: Walking After You - Foo Fighters (92 plays)

Top 8: Hallelujah - Gin Wigmore (63 plays)

Top 9: Orange Sky - Alexi Murdoch (57 plays)

Top 10: S.O.S. - Gin Wigmore (49 plays)

Top 11: Under My Skin - Gin Wigmore (47 plays)

Top 12: Easy Come, Easy Go - Gin Wigmore (45 plays)

Top 13: Walking After You Music Video - Foo Fighters (35 plays)

I'm always surprised when I view my top most played songs in iTunes. Before I formatted my hard drive, I had a very different list and I was also surprised with the previous list. You can compare this with my previous list posted last July 29. Never fails to put a smile on face.

Happy Thursday! What's your Thursday 13? For more Thursday 13, please click here.

Musing Mondays (September 27)

2010-09-27T22:24:00.000+08:00

Musing Mondays is hosted by Miz B in Should be Reading.

The musing this week asks about book suggestions.

If your book group asked you to bring two (2) suggestions for group reads to your next meeting, what two books would you suggest? Why?

I don't have a book group as of the moment (and I would love to belong in one) but if I were to suggest two books it will be the following:

1. The Gift of Acabar - Og Mandino (with Buddy Kaye)

This is a bittersweet story by the late Og Mandino on family, loss and letting go. It'd be nice to know if others would tear up like I did while reading the book. There's a Credenda in the book that's one of my favorite poems, if I may call it as such. It's kind of like Desiderata in format. Touches my heart everytime I read it.

2. Juliet - Anne Fortier

I'm still currently in page 88 so far. I saw a lot of blog posts on this book thus I decided to buy it. I'm not disappointed so far. The mystery is keeping me on my toes and yet I can't seem to breeze through the book. Time is my enemy! I would want to know if other readers will have the same reaction like I did that's why I chose this one. The book cover is also gorgeous by the way.

If you want to see other book suggestions, please visit our host's blog!

Monday Movie Meme: Stolen Goods

2010-09-27T21:47:00.001+08:00

It's been quite sometime since I last participated in Monday Movie Meme. I miss it! This week, it's all about heists, robberies and capers. I love heist movies. The suspense, the adrenaline rush and the great twists in the ending are just some of the things that keep me hook.

Here are my choices in any order:

1. The Italian Job (2003)

2. The Perfect Score (2004)

3. Ocean's Trilogy (2001, 2004, 2007)

4. Point Break (1991)

5. So Close (2002)

6. Inception (2010)

7. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

8. The Fast and the Furious (2001)

9. Entrapment (1999)

10. Hackers (1995)

11. Plunkett & Macleane (1999)

For more Heist and Capers, please visit the The Bumbles blog.

Thursday 13: 13 Best First Lines from Novels

2010-09-23T22:05:00.000+08:00

American Book Review featured "100 Best First Lines from Novels" and among the hundred I chose 13 for this week's Thursday 13.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. — Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice(1813)
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. — Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita (1955)
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. — Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877; trans. Constance Garnett)
It was a pleasure to burn. — Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 (1953)
It was love at first sight. — Joseph Heller, Catch-22 (1961)

Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person. — Anne Tyler, Back When We Were Grownups (2001)

"When your mama was the geek, my dreamlets," Papa would say, "she made the nipping off of noggins such a crystal mystery that the hens themselves yearned toward her, waltzing around her, hypnotized with longing." — Katherine Dunn, Geek Love (1983)

Of all the things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I've come to learn, is women. — Charles Johnson, Middle Passage (1990)

Psychics can see the color of time it's blue. — Ronald Sukenick, Blown Away(1986)
In the town, there were two mutes and they were always together. — Carson McCullers, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1940)
Time is not a line but a dimension, like the dimensions of space. — Margaret Atwood, Cat's Eye (1988)

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925)

You better not never tell nobody but God. — Alice Walker, The Color Purple(1982)

What's your list for this week?

Teaser Tuesdays: Juliet

2010-09-21T03:56:00.000+08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
1. Grab your current read.
2. Let the book fall open to a random page.
3. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.
4. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from, that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given.
5. Spoilers not allowed! XD

The book I've been waiting for finally arrived and I'm diving into it immediately. Here's a teaser:

"In the eyes of the crowd she was no less beautiful now than she had been before, but it was evident to the painter - who had not seen her since the night before the fatal Palio - that hers had become the stony beauty of Athena, rather than the smiling charms of Aprhodite."

p. 247, Juliet by Anne Fortier

What's your teaser this Tuesday? For more Teaser Tuesdays, please visit: Should Be Reading

Follow Friday: The Juvenile and The Mature

2010-09-17T14:43:00.000+08:00

It's time to hop: Follow Friday! Join the fun and make new book blogger friends. Follow the simple steps below:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list.

2. Follow Parajunkee.com's Featured Blogger for this week: http://baileysbookreviews.blogspot.com.

3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "Hi" in your comments.

5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can.

6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love... and the followers.

This week, PJV asks: Favorite YA or do you stick to adult reads?

It really depends on the story. I thought I'll find YA books cheesy but there are really great YA books out there that are definitely worth reading. I started early on the adult reads. I was still in high school when I started reading Johanna Lindsey, to which my English teacher said: "But she's so explicit." And true, but her stories are good. My favorite YA book is Twilight. Okay, don't judge me please. I believe the book is good but it was just overblown because of the movie (Kristin is wrong for Bella and Robert is okay but they could've hired a better actor for the role). You can compare it to an overplayed song in the radio. You know it's good but a lot of people likes it so it loses its exclusivity.

TGIF! Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday 13: 13 Covers of U2's All I Want is You

2010-09-16T19:22:00.000+08:00

U2 is one of my favorite bands. A legend in the music industry. Of all the U2 songs, my all time favorite is "All I Want You". The song just simply wrenches my heart out and brings me to 7th heaven. My statement sort of clashes, but I think most people will understand what I'm trying to say.

While tinkering with Apple's latest addition to iTunes, Ping, I realize that several bands have tributes to U2's songs. I went to Wikipedia, researched and found out that there are exactly 13 different covers of "All I Want You". Perfect enough to be my topic for this week's Thursday 13.

Here's a stub from Wikipedia:

"All I Want Is You" is the 17th song on U2's 1988 album, Rattle and Hum and was released in 1989 as the album's fourth and final single. It is the closing song from the movie Rattle and Hum.

Year Covered by Album
1999 Absolute Rock A Tribute to the Greatest Hits of U2
1999 Mission UK We Will Follow: A Tribute to U2
1999 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Pride: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays U2
1999 Tufts Beelzebubs Infinity
2000 Kane With or Without You
2000 Vitamin String Quartet Strung Out on U2
2002 Bellefire After the Rain and All I Want Is You
2004 Jars of Clay In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa
2005 Les Paul and Johnny Rzeznik American Made World Played
2005 Mark Geary Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 3
2006 Sugarplum Fairies Country International Records
2007 Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of U2
2008 Glen Campbell Meet Glen Campbell

Year	Covered by	Album
1999	Absolute Rock	A Tribute to the Greatest Hits of U2
1999	Mission UK	We Will Follow: A Tribute to U2
1999	Royal Philharmonic Orchestra	Pride: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays U2
1999	Tufts Beelzebubs	Infinity
2000	Kane	With or Without You
2000	Vitamin String Quartet	Strung Out on U2
2002	Bellefire	After the Rain and All I Want Is You
2004	Jars of Clay	In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa
2005	Les Paul and Johnny Rzeznik	American Made World Played
2005	Mark Geary	Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 3
2006	Sugarplum Fairies	Country International Records
2007	Rockabye Baby!	Lullaby Renditions of U2
2008	Glen Campbell	Meet Glen Campbell

For more Thursday 13, please visit: http://thursday-13.com/.

BTT: Day and Night

2010-09-16T18:52:00.000+08:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted here: http://btt2.wordpress.com/.

This week's question:

Do you divide your books into day and night reads? How do you decide?

Before, I would read anything be it day time or night time. Time was not an issue. When I started reading Kathy Reichs' first book, Deja Dead, I realized that I don't have the stomach to read it during the night. Her descriptions of decapitated bodies and maggots had me imagining the worst at 2 in the morning. I decided then that I will only read my bible and books that are light reads during night time. The morbid and gruesome books are reserved to be read with the sun on.

Note: By the way, I'm still not yet finished reading Deja Dead. Yes, it played tricks in my mind. Everytime I reach for it, I remember her description of the maggots squirming on the floor. Ugh! Disgusting. I wonder if I'll ever finish it.

For more BTT, please visit http://btt2.wordpress.com/.

WWW Wednesdays

2010-09-15T21:06:00.000+08:00

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?

* What did you recently finish reading?

* What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

Blurb from Amazon:

Winning the Battle in your Mind. There's a War Going On And Your Mind Is The Battlefield. If you're one of millions who suffer from worry, doubt, confusion, depression, anger or condemnation, you are experiencing an attack in your mind. Overcoming negative thoughts that come against your mind brings freedom and peace. Find out how to recognize damaging thought patterns and stop them from influencing your life. In this powerful book, best-selling author and conference host, Joyce Meyer, guides you through an honest self-appraisal by sharing the trials, tragedies and ultimate victories of her own marriage, family and ministry- including the truth she learned about what she was thinking and feeling every step of the way. You'll gain insight into how Joyce won the battle in her own mind- and how you can as well. You'll also discover how to: -Find peace and stop brain-storm of mental activity. -See the truth by thinking correctly. -Use spiritual weapons effectively.

What did you recently finish reading?

Blurb from Amazon:

Near strangers Honor Witherspoon and hunky computer genius Bram Bennett are temporarily forced into marriage by Honor's millionaire father. The justifications for this preposterous act are murky at best, but the result is crystal clear: instant attraction. Despite the sexuality that simmers between the pair, they hold back for much of the story. Bram is still grieving the death of his young wife, Alicia, tragically murdered eight years earlier, and the innately gregarious Honor is still suffering post-traumatic stress from a terrifying kidnapping. Even after they succumb to temptation, both resist giving their hearts to each other.

What do you think you'll read next? (Hoping that my order will arrive…)

Blurb from Amazon:

Fortier bobs and weaves between Shakespearean tragedy and popular romance for a high-flying debut in which American Julie Jacobs travels to Siena in search of her Italian heritage--and possibly an inheritance--only to discover she is descended from 14th-century Giulietta Tomei, whose love for Romeo defied their feuding families and inspired Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Julie's hunt leads her to the families' descendants, still living in Siena, still feuding, and still struggling under the curse of the friar who wished a plague on both their houses. Julie's unraveling of the past is assisted by a Felliniesque contessa and the contessa's handsome nephew, and complicated by mobsters, police, and a mysterious motorcyclist. To understand what happened centuries ago, in the previous generation, and all around her, Julie relies on relics: a painting, a journal, a dagger, a ring. Readers enjoy the additional benefit of antique texts alternating with contemporary narratives, written in the language of modern romance and enlivened by brisk storytelling. Fortier navigates around false clues and twists, resulting in a dense, heavily plotted love story that reads like a Da Vinci Code for the smart modern woman.

Celebrity Crush: The Adorable Michael Cera

2010-09-15T03:17:00.000+08:00

Love him in Juno. Love him in Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist. Michael Cera, one of my celebrity crushes.

Teaser Tuesdays: Battlefield of the Mind

2010-09-14T06:34:00.000+08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

1. Grab your current read.

2. Let the book fall open to a random page.

3. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.

4. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from, that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given.

5. Spoilers not allowed! XD

Taking a break from fiction this week and reading a non-fiction by Joyce Meyer. Below is a teaser from the book, Battlefield of the Mind:

"A passive person thinks he is doing nothing wrong because he is doing nothing. Confronted with his error , he will say, "I didn't do anything!" His analysis is correct, but his behavior is not. The problem arose precisely because he did nothing."

- Chapter 14, p.75

Follow Friday: To E-Book or To Print? That is the question...

2010-09-10T23:27:00.001+08:00

It's time to hop: Follow Friday! Join the fun and make new book blogger friends. Follow the simple steps below:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list.
2. Follow Parajunkee.com's Featured Blogger for this week: http://readingangel002.blogspot.com/.
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "Hi" in your comments.
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can.
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers.

This week, PJV asks: E-Book or Print?

Nothing beats Print but I'm not discounting E-Books either. One of my grand plans is to own a personal library, thus I like Print. E-books are great when you are travelling. Load it in your E-Book reader then it's good to go. Lugging your unread books while hopping places is inconvenient and not to mention additional kilos to your luggage.

Answer: BOTH. =)

Happy Friday everyone!

FUND LESS TOXIC THERAPIES FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER | Pepsi Refresh Everything

2010-09-10T02:57:00.000+08:00

FUND LESS TOXIC THERAPIES FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER | Pepsi Refresh Everything

from LilMsSnarky's site:

Pepsi has a ‘Refresh Everything’ campaign and the charity with the most votes receives a $250,000 grant. A Band of Parents member has entered her foundation ‘Arms Wide Open’ with the idea to FUND LESS TOXIC THERAPIES FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER. If it wins, the money will go directly to their doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering for the development of the ‘Turbo 3F8′. Just click on the following link, it takes a few seconds to register then another few seconds to vote, and you can vote once a day until Sept 30th.
Click Here to vote!
This month happens to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, please help us spread the word and help us win this grant. We CAN do this, in one day we went from being ranked at 93 to 19 so there’s a real possibility of winning this! For you texters, please take a few seconds to vote from your MOBILE PHONE by texting 102653 to Pepsi (73774).
If you need inspiration to vote, check out all “my” kids, HERE!

BTT: Disaster

2010-09-09T19:56:00.000+08:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted here:http://btt2.wordpress.com/.

This week's question:

You’ve just dropped your favorite, out-of-print book into a bathtub, ruining it completely … What do you do now?

I can foresee that my first reaction will be to say some expletive a mile long and preferably in my dialect. We are talking about a ruined out-of-print book and I'm very possessive with my books. Then my next course of action is to go to Amazon or Book Depository and hope they still have some copies left. If not... well who says life is fair. It's my fault anyway for being careless. Hmmm... I better give a note to myself: Don't read while in the bathtub. XD

Thursday 13: The First 13 Paragraph/Lines of the "Wear Sunscreen" Essay

2010-09-09T18:05:00.001+08:00

I decided to feature the Sunscreen Speech, a.k.a. Wear Sunscreen essay by Mary Schmich when I saw a quote posted in Tumblr where the person attributed it to Baz Luhrmann. My hands itched to correct the person but it seemed rude. For the correct information on the essay, here’s a blurb from Wikipedia:

“Wear Sunscreen or the Sunscreen Speech are the common names of an essay titled "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young" written by Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune as a column in 1997, but often erroneously attributed to a commencement speech by author Kurt Vonnegut. Both its subject and tone are similar to the 1927 poem "Desiderata". The most popular and well-known form of the essay is the successful music single "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)", released in 1998, by Baz Luhrmann.”

- Wear sunscreen.

- If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

- Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

- Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

- Do one thing every day that scares you.

- Sing.

- Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

- Floss.

- Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

- Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

- Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

- Stretch.

- Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Wise advices she got there. Do you think I’ll get skin cancer since I don’t use sunscreen everyday? I only use it when I go to the beach or take a dip in the pool. As for the love letters… burned and thrown. What’s the use when the guy who wrote it turned out to be a snake? But let’s not reminisce old flames, instead let’s celebrate Thursday 13! What’s your list this week? For more Thursday 13, go here.

Teaser Tuesdays: Then Comes Marriage

2010-09-07T18:35:00.001+08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.
You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from, that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given
Spoilers not allowed! XD

I'm on a Christie Ridgway marathon so most of my teasers in the succeeding weeks will come from her books. I'm on my 4th Christie Ridgway book this week. Most of her books are light reads but a couple of books made me teary eyed. I can't wait to catch up until the latest book she released. I'm currently reading "Then Comes Marriage" and below is a teaser:

"My father's money," she corrected. "Occupational hazard of the poor little rich girls of the world." She said the words before he could.

Then Comes Marriage, Christie Ridgway

Follow Friday: It's time to hop again!

2010-09-03T21:51:00.001+08:00

It's time for blog hopping! I'll to try to hop as many blogs as I can. While surfing, I have Mutemath in my iTunes on repeat mode. "You are mine, you are mine…" Now I'm multi-tasking: blog hopping, listening to "You Are Mine" and reminiscing on old obsessions.

On other news, there's a giveaway happening at http://mesmerix.blogspot.com/ on their featured author: Emma Michaels. I want to get my hands on this book and hopefully I'll win this one. Please visit http://mesmerix.blogspot.com/ for more details and you can also follow Ms. Michaels to get updates on her latest book.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list

2. Follow Parajunkee.com's Featured Blogger for this week: http://candacesreadingblog.blogspot.com

3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "Hi" in your comments.

5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can.

6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers.

Thank God it's Friday! Happy Weekend everyone!

13 Sets of Words Commonly Confused and Misused

2010-09-02T16:27:00.001+08:00

When in doubt, consult Merriam. MS Word is just one click away and if you're using a Mac, then open up Pages. Both applications have thesaurus. Why not look it up?

1. Loose and Lose

I always see this in professional/business emails. They always use the former when what they mean is the latter. To explain the differences in an Idiot's-Guide-To-Homonyms kind of way:

Loose - meaning it's not tight
Lose - the present tense of lost

2. Break and Brake

To borrow the notes from www.dictionary.com :

"to brake is to slow or stop while break is to cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently, smash or crack"

3. Hills and Heels

I actually have friends who misuse these two words. My dear friends, to clarify the difference between these two, I will use them in a sentence.

My heels are cracked due to the lack of moisture.
Her Jimmy Choo heels look too big for her.
The view of my villa is facing the forest and some hills.
"The hills are alive with the sound of music." (Think of Julie Andrews if it will help.)
Heels is to feet as to hills is to landform.

4. Bear and Bare

I can't bare it! --> WRONG! Use bear.
Bare means no covering while bear means to carry or referring to Winnie the Pooh Bear.

5. It's and Its

People often don't use these words correctly. You see it in blogs, text messages and even books! The apostrophe makes a lot of difference.

"It's" is the short form of "It is".
"Its" is the possessive form of "It".
Sample 1: "It's a beautiful day!"
Sample 2: "One of its component is alkaline."

6. Your and You're

I'm guilty with this one. It usually happens when I don't edit my email or my tweets. I always cringe when I see my mistake.

WRONG: "Your so beautiful to me."
WRONG: "You're wedding dress is perfect!"
You're is the contraction of "You are" while Your is the possessive form of You.

7. Muscles and Mussels

To a friend who will remain unnamed: In a restaurant, you eat Baked Mussels not Baked Muscles. Unless you went to a restaurant for cannibals.

8. Desert and Dessert

WRONG: What's for desert? Mango Crepe.

RIGHT: What's for dessert? Mango Crepe.

WRONG: I want to go to the Sahara Dessert.

RIGHT: I want to go to the Sahara Desert.

Segue way: My friend, please don't say your Mango Crepe is so delicious and that it's so creepy. Crepe and Creep is not the same. Think of Thom Yorke when you start singing "I'm a Crepe. I'm a weirdo." It's just not the same.

As for the last five pair of words, I don't see it often misused but it won't hurt to pick up the dictionary or go to www.dictionary.com and learn the difference. Prevention is better than cure. lol!

9. Patience and Patients

10. Peek and Peak

11. Heat and Hit

12. Jeans and Genes

13. Farther and Further

What's your (not you're) Thursday 13? For more Thursday 13, please visit: http://thursday-13.com.

Teaser Tuesdays: Wish You Were Here

2010-08-25T01:28:00.000+08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from, that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given.

Spoilers not allowed! XD

I'm playing catch up with my Teaser Tuesday. It's already Wednesday my timezone. Should I call it Teaser Wednesday? =) I'm reading 2 books at the same time. Since Deja Dead gets me psyched out when I read it at night, I'm reading it during daytime. To have something to read before bed time, I grabbed a light read with none of those description of decapitated bodies. I already did a teaser of Deja Dead last Thursday, so this time I'll share a teaser of the second book I'm currently reading.

"She's speechless," Lyssa murmured as she brushed by him, sly humor in her voice. "Remarkable."

Yeager smiled again. "Do you want me to come back?"

Wish You Were Here, Christie Ridgway

I added Christie Ridgway's books in my TBR list. It was suggested by one of the blogs I'm following but I forgot which blog, but thanks for the suggestion. I'm quite finicky in following the order of the books, so I got the very first longish book she released. Currently enjoying it so far. =)

Feel free to share your teasers!

Musing Mondays (August 23)

2010-08-23T23:52:00.000+08:00

Musing Mondays is hosted by Miz B in Should be Reading.

For this week, Miz B's musing is inspired by her step-brother who is a firefighter.

"If your house was burning down –and you could SAFELY grab a book on your way outside to safety– what book would you make sure you ‘rescued’? Why? "

My answer would be like Miz B, no question. It's my black, hard bound NIV Bible. It might not be as expensive (it's only about 7.00 USD) like most of the books I own but the return is eternal, everlasting.

Happy Monday everybody!

Movie Meme: Prison Break

2010-08-23T18:56:00.000+08:00

This is a weekly movie meme hosted by The Bumbles Blog.

Anyone can join. Just go to your blog and create a post on the topic linking The Bumbles Blog as the host of the topic. Visit back to The Bumbles Blog and leave a link to your post in their Comments section.

This week's topic is all about your favorite prison movies. Shawshank Redemption seems to be the big favorite of the The Bumbles and the movie is still in my TBW (To Be Watched) list. Don't judge me please. XD

I can't remember a lot of prison movies I saw and I'm trying really hard to think of one... Okay finally thought of 4...

The Green Mile - Tear Jerker.

Chicago - This movie makes being in jail look cool. Pop! Six! Squish! Uh Uh! Cicero! Lipschitz!

Ernest Goes To Jail - Hilarious but for others they find it unfunny.

The Killing Fields - Is this considered a prison movie? Or a war movie? It will also show you the atrocities of Khmer Rouge.

Weekend Introspection #1

2010-08-23T04:57:00.000+08:00

On Books:

My TBR list is getting longer and I'm still stuck reading Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs. It's not that the book is boring or uninteresting, but man oh man, Kathy Reichs is so explicit with her descriptions that reading the novel at 2am just gives me the creeps. To quote 2 lines from the book:

"Margaret Adkins had been ripped open from her breastbone to her pubis. A jagged fissure ran downward from her sternum, exposing along its course the colors and textures of her mutilated entrails. At its deepest points, where the organs had been displaced, I could see the glistening sheath surrounding her vertebral column."

It was already around 2am, Sunday morning when I read the part mentioned above. I just had to put it down or else "Hello over active imagination." I fell asleep praying and asking God, "Guard my thoughts and guide my heart." Note to self: Read the book during daytime, with people around, and not before bed time.

On Music:

I currently have Ingrid Michaelson on repeat mode that she must be hoarse from singing over and over again. Not familiar with her?

"I love the way you call me baby and you take me the way I am..."

Her genres are Indie Pop and Indie Folk. Most of her songs have been used in Grey's Anatomy. To learn more about her, click here.

On Movies:

I still have a hangover on Inception. When I start discussing the different interpretations of the movie to my friends, I either get the silent treatment or be told "Let it go." Seriously my friends, intellectual stimulation! Anyone willing to strike a discussion with me on Inception, my twitter is on the right side bar or PM me. My Skype and YM are also online most of the time. Anne... LET it GO! =)

On TV Series:

Anyone watching So You Think You Can Dance Season 7? It should have been called "So You Think You Can Get Injured" with the numerous injuries the contestants sustained. Two contestants (Alex Wong and Ashley Galvan) had to leave because of serious injuries. Billy Bell, Jose Ruiz and Lauren Froderman were also injured. Despite the ravings of the judges on Alex Wong, I'm pro-Billy Bell! When he was eliminated, I was then rooting for Kent Boyd. He did not win also. Tsk.

Favorite Group Routine: "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", Choreographed by Mia Michaels.

Favorite Duo Routine: "Mad World", Performed by Billy Bell and Ade Obayomi, Choreographed by Stacey Tookey

Best Performance in Season 7: "That's Life", from the Broadway Show Come Fly Away, Performed by Keith Roberts and Karine Plantadit

--> They were the guest performers during the Week 1 Results Show and trumped all the performances combined.

There were also notable performances like Ashley and Ade's Dee Caspary routine and Travis Wall's routine dedicated to his mother. There was a change in the format of the show. They only selected 11 people and the contestants were partnered with a contestant from previous seasons, thus Ade. I'm hoping in the next season, one of the choreographers will create a dance (3 dancers in one routine) about adultery and how destructive it can be. Then partner it with Damien Rice's 9 Crimes song... I can just imagine it. Chills... Calling Mia Michaels, Dee Caspary, Travis Wall or Stacey Tookey...

One question: Why is it that Cat Deeley can effortlessly pull off the tousled-look but on me I end up looking like a hag? Another tsk. XD

On Blogging:

I just learned about this Follow Friday meme from one of the blogs I follow. I participated last Friday and two authors started following me! How cool is that! Thanks E.J. Stevens and Emma Michaels! And, of course, also to my new followers! =)

My favorite shot of the week:

I took a shot of our neighbor's dog, Chubby. He's posed for me, mind you. He's cute but I'm not really a pet lover. I'll just stick to "Oh, cute dog..." statements and not "I want to own one".

Goodbye weekend... Hello Monday and work...

Happy Follow Friday

2010-08-20T23:59:00.004+08:00

This is my first time joining. Visit our host blogger of Follow My Book Blog Friday (wow, that's a mouthful!), Parajunkee.Com, to know the details on how to participate and start blog hopping!

Friday Fill-Ins: August 20

2010-08-20T23:58:00.001+08:00

And...here we go!

1. Laughter (okay, I'll go for the obvious) is the best medicine.

2. "No problem Chai" are the three words that started off the last email I sent.

3. What I'm most looking forward to today is to catch up on missed blogs like Meme of Reading.

4. Counting the down the days until the arrival of my bestfriend puts a smile on my face.

5. Where in the world is Carmen San Diego (remember this game?)

6. A kick on the butt by my boss is just what I needed!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading at least 2 chapters of Deja Dead: A Novel, tomorrow my plans include cleaning my room in preparation of my bestfriend's arrival and Sunday, I want to be so ready that I won't be conscious when I sing in front of my churchmates (yikes!)!

Thank GOD it's Friday! XD

WWW Wednesdays

2010-08-18T16:17:00.000+08:00

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?

* What did you recently finish reading?

* What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Déjà Dead by Kathy Reichs

Yes, I'm still reading this book and haven't got pass chapter 1. In the first few pages, the heroine was examining a dead body found by some workers and the author described it in such detail that it gave the creeps. That was about 3am and I had to put it down and promised myself to read it during day time. I can still imagine the decapitated head (chills).

What did you recently finish reading? For The Love of Pete by Julia Harper

I get to know her books when someone mentioned her in one of the blogs I'm following. She also writes in another name: Elizabeth Hoyt. Book is okay. Fun read but not really that deep.

What do you think you'll read next? Wicked by Gregory Maguire

I promised to read Kathy Reichs' next book after Deja Dead but Wicked has been sitting on my bookshelf for quite sometime and it's already sulking because I've ignored it for more than a year.

Feel free to participate especially if you're a book lover. Happy Wednesday!

Teaser Tuesdays: Deja Dead

2010-08-17T22:57:00.000+08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from, that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given.

Spoilers not allowed! XD

"Whoa. Whoa. Slow down. You're going about this all wrong. First of all, most of what you've described has to do with modus operandi."

from Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs

I'm still not yet done with the book because the description of the dead bodies is so graphic that I refused to read it at night. =)

Musing Mondays (August 16)

2010-08-16T23:52:00.001+08:00

Musing Mondays is hosted by Miz B in Should be Reading.

For this week's musing:

What books are you wishing for MOST right now?

I'm currently wishing for the book Juliet by Anne Fortier. I have this fascination with Romeo and Juliet that's why I'm interested with anything about star-crossed lovers.

Here's one editorial review in Amazon:

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Fortier bobs and weaves between Shakespearean tragedy and popular romance for a high-flying debut in which American Julie Jacobs travels to Siena in search of her Italian heritage--and possibly an inheritance--only to discover she is descended from 14th-century Giulietta Tomei, whose love for Romeo defied their feuding families and inspired Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Julie's hunt leads her to the families' descendants, still living in Siena, still feuding, and still struggling under the curse of the friar who wished a plague on both their houses. Julie's unraveling of the past is assisted by a Felliniesque contessa and the contessa's handsome nephew, and complicated by mobsters, police, and a mysterious motorcyclist. To understand what happened centuries ago, in the previous generation, and all around her, Julie relies on relics: a painting, a journal, a dagger, a ring. Readers enjoy the additional benefit of antique texts alternating with contemporary narratives, written in the language of modern romance and enlivened by brisk storytelling. Fortier navigates around false clues and twists, resulting in a dense, heavily plotted love story that reads like a Da Vinci Code for the smart modern woman.

Manic Monday: August 16

2010-08-16T22:05:00.011+08:00

Manic Monday meme is hosted by Fleur of Manic Monday.

This week's Manic Monday asks:

What are 5 things you want to do in your life?
1. I want to work for Oprah.
2. Tour around the world.
3. Join in world missions.
4. Help out a cause on illiteracy and human trafficking.
5. Own a coffee or flower farm.

What are you saying goodbye to?
Temper, insomnia and procrastination.

What are you currently fascinated with?
Formula 1, blogging and creating different ways how to mix yogurt with pasta.

Happy Monday everyone! =)

Monday Movie Meme: John Hughes... How Do I Love Thee?

2010-08-16T04:29:00.007+08:00

This week I'm hosting the Monday Movie meme at The Bumbles. This week's topic is all about the films, written, directed or both by the late John Hughes.

Admit it. Once upon a time (in your life), you were bitten by the John Hughes bug. I haven't seen all of his movies, but those I saw still beat those chick flicks running around these days. Show how much you love John Hughes' movies by answering this:

John Hughes... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

I would like to thank Molly for giving me my debut as a guest blogger. To see my choices, please go and visit The Bumbles Monday Movie Meme blog where I'm the featured guest blogger. Our usual host, Molly, already has her selections and I'm featuring it here in my blog.

Here are Molly's answers:

For letting me know I wasn't the only embarrassed and overlooked teen in the world, and giving me hope that "my" Jake Ryan just might notice me some day.

For letting me know that everybody should get their priorities straight and play hooky to take in a baseball game.

For letting the world know that Dads can take a turn raising families too.

For teaching me that not even bears, bats and uninvited in-laws can spoil a vacation.

For teaching me that not even busted lights, unpaid bonuses and uninvited in-laws can spoil the holidays.

For always giving me something to chuckle about to myself as I wait impatiently for my rental car.

Not familiar who John Hughes is? Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone, Curly Sue, Uncle Buck and if you're still not familiar, just go to Wikipedia to learn more.

Now it's your turn to play! Anyone can join. Just go to your blog and create a post on the topic linking The Bumbles Blog as the host of the topic. Visit back to The Bumbles Blog and leave a link to your post in their Comments section.

Happy Monday!

BTT: Evolution

2010-08-13T03:31:00.000+08:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted here:http://btt2.wordpress.com/.

This week's question:

Have your reading choices changed over the years? Or pretty much stayed the same? (And yes, from childhood to adulthood we usually read different things, but some people stick to basically the same kind of book their entire lives, so…)

Reading, just like any natural process in this earth, is an evolution. You start from the most comfortable and when that becomes banal, you go seeking for new challenges.

I started with books that are thin. Easier to read. Remember those Sweet Valley Kids and Twins? Then I graduated to Sweet Valley High and SVU, then to the thicker novels: Johanna Lindsey and Sidney Sheldon. As time passed and on my way to reading maturity, my tastes changed and I look for novels with more substance and hook. I evolved into a book snob and would not read books with shallow plots no matter what they say that it is a fun read. About a few years back, I tried to balance my reading list by adding a few non-fiction books like those of John Maxwell.

Recently, I want to challenge myself to read the books of Leo Tolstoy: Anna Karenina (Penguin Classics) & War and Peace: Original Version to name a few. I remember when I was in high school, my professor (God bless his soul) would push us to read the books of Leo Tolstoy, Ernest Hemingway and other classic authors. I think I've mention in my previous post that he gave us this list of 100 books to read. We asked him how come the books of contemporary writers, like Sidney Sheldon are not included in the list. He then harangued us and called Sidney Sheldon crap. Hahaha... but back then I'd rather read Sidney Sheldon than Leo Tolstoy. I've never read one single book from that list (even until today) because I think it will take me one year to finish one book. I'm still boosting up my confidence to even touch one of those books. Okay, that was too over acting, because I have The Picture of Dorian Gray lounging in my bookshelf and the book was part of that list (and yes I've never read the book).

One thing that never changed though: books that are way too explicit still don't have a place in my reading list. Again, when I was still in high school, some of my friends would push me to read Harold Robbins. Ick Factor to the highest level. Read one and never again.

I thinks others would agree that our reading preference have changed over time. Change is inevitable.

What are your thoughts? Feel free to share.

Thursday 13: Musicians/Bands Worth Hearing or miss 1/16th of Your Life

2010-08-12T16:12:00.006+08:00

To quote William Congreve: "Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak." It's music time again for my Thursday 13. Whether I'm sad, angry, inspired or in need of inspiration, music never fails to give me transcendence.

Here's 13 musicians or bands that you should hear to make your existence more worthwhile. Keyword: more worthwhile (I'm not saying your existence is not already worthwhile... smile). I'm naturally a music pimp, so if an artist is worth listening to, I promote them with zeal.

Nina Gordon - "My hero said you can't hold the hand of a Rock n' Roll man, but what if I can?"
The Sundays - "Hope I'll never wake when I'm thinking about you..."
Dan Mills - "She may not know the finest wines but she knows a fast way home."
Damien Rice - "If you don't shoot it how am I suppose to hold it."
Tori Amos - "I won't hold on to the tail of your kite."
The Temper Trap - "Oh, reckless abandon like no one's watching you."
Regina Spektor - "We're living in a den of thieves, rummaging for answers in the pages."
Feist - "He's my Brandy Alexander always gets me into trouble."
Florence + The Machine - "A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes."
Skunk Anansie - "So you should be by yourself instead of here with me... secretly."
Morcheeba - "It's all part of the process. We all love looking down."
Charlotte Martin - "I have only stalked a couple guys but they were not about surprises. Don't run away 'cause baby I'm your dream."
Dishwalla - "Download my dread. Disarm my mind. Make it dry."

What's your 13? Feel free to share!

WWW Wednesdays

2010-08-11T16:00:00.004+08:00

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?

* What did you recently finish reading?

* What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Déjà Dead by Kathy Reichs

I had this book as my next-book-to-be-read two weeks ago but since I'm not loyal to my reading list, I ended up reading 5 books that were not in my list. I've always promised not to stray but promises are made to be broken hehehe...

What did you recently finish reading? Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery

The synopsis held such teaser but the story kind of disappointed me. I thought there will be more drama and there was only little. Fun read but I was looking for more.

What do you think you'll read next? Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs

This is her second book and though I'm still in the first chapter of her first book, I've already planned to read this one next. Let's see and maybe I'll be compelled to write a book review.

Waiting on Wednesday: I Can't Take My Eyes Off You

2010-08-11T15:27:00.002+08:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm highlighting the highly anticipated book of Judith McNaught: I Can't Take My Eyes Off You. The release date has been pushed back many times and last I heard it's on December 2011. People said that Judith's mother was sick and she helped in nursing her and then her mother passed away which pushed the release date further. Ms. McNaught's books are always worth the wait so I just have to be patient with this one. =)

Here's some information about the book from Judith McNaught's site:

One of the most popular authors is set to dazzle readers again. Can't Take My Eyes Off of You is the story of a complex, charismatic man and a successful, spirited woman who in their youth fell in love, married, and divorced--but years later are given a rare second chance to rediscover that love can rekindle their relationship.

A brilliantly written, triumphant tale of love lost and regained--with appearances from popular characters from her previous books-- Can't Take My Eyes Off of You will remind millions of fans exactly why her books have won their hearts.

What's your pick this week? Feel free to share.

Teaser Tuesdays: Match Me If You Can

2010-08-10T03:56:00.003+08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from, that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given

Spoilers not allowed! XD

Try as she might, she couldn't get past what she'd come to think of as the "ick factor". She'd made love with a man who wanted to be woman.

from p. 119, Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Note: I've actually finished reading this book way back. Since I'm not currently reading anything at the moment, I scanned my bookshelf for my Teaser Tuesday entry and here's another one from Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

What's your teaser for today?

Manic Monday: August 9

2010-08-09T23:35:00.004+08:00

Manic Monday meme is hosted by Fleur of Manic Monday.

1. Right now, what's on your mind

I'm thinking whether to sleep early, read a book or watch "Some Kind of Wonderful".

2. List 10 things you expect from a good friend.

Someone who will not forget my birthday.

Accepts me for who I am.

Someone who will not judge me on my reactions.

Someone who will not be afraid to kick my ass when I mess up.

Thoughtful.

Always know how to make me laugh. Laughter is the best medicine.

Someone who will appreciate my bluntness.

Someone who stimulates me intellectually. After all, great minds think alike!

Someone who doesn't offer advice, but instead gives assistance in looking for a solution.

A good friend is someone who will always have my back and would not hesitate to rush to my side when I need her/him. (singing Stand By Me...)

3. What's something you've done that you wish you hadn't?

Those instances when in anger I reacted. As what they said, "In anger, do not sin."

Musing Mondays (August 9)

2010-08-09T20:43:00.004+08:00

Musing Mondays is hosted by Miz B in Should be Reading.

For this week's musing, Miz B, created a little twist of the meme. It's like a round robin kind of thingy. I'm answering AlleluiLu's question:

Have you ever read the first book in a series that bothered you and were you able to walk away from the series or did you read the rest of the books just to find out what happened next or if things got better? Was it worth it?

I don't think I've ever walked away from a series. Even if the first book did not hold that much interest for me, I always get suckered by the second book. Curiosity always get the best of me. If the books don't have that much hook, I'm always optimistic that maybe the succeeding books will save the previous books. Sometimes the succeeding book can redeem the previous books and sometimes it's not worth it (and I would blame myself the whole why I wasted my hours reading the crap). I've always been (over and over again) a victim of the "Curiosity killed the cat".

Next question will be: "Have you ever read a book from your most favorite author that disappointed you, bordering on removing her/him from your list of favorite authors?

Movie Meme: The Stuff of Legends

2010-08-09T16:53:00.008+08:00

This is a weekly movie meme hosted by The Bumbles Blog.

This week's topic is all about Future Screen Legends. Who do you think among the actors and actresses under 50 will reach the legend status in 25 years or so?

Drew Barrymore (35)

She first got drunk when she was only 9 years old and was already a drug addict by the time she hit 11. Despite the odds, she was able to overcome her challenges and is one of the respected actresses in the industry. She's now venturing to producing and directing.

Shia LaBeouf (24)

Just ignore his run-in with the law, then you got a legend in the making. Aside from acting, he has also tried his hand in directing. He is good with comedy but he can also pull off drama. Did you see him in New York, I Love You? You should.

Cate Blanchett (41)

From playing as the Queen to an elf to an antagonist with a bob cut, Cate Blanchett is legend worthy. She has already earned enough nominations to be considered a legend.

Leonardo DiCaprio (35)

Is there any role that this guy can't tackle? Though he hasn't earned an Oscar, this doesn't detract him from being legend-worthy. Except for that dismal and corny "Man in the Iron Mask" movie, Leo's roles are deep and display his acting abilities.

Ellen Page (23)

Who can resist Juno? Ellen Page just played the role with effortless aplomb that stole the heart of the viewers. She may still have a short career so far but give her another 20 years, this girl will evolve into a legendary thespian.

Johnny Depp (47)

Officer Tom Hanson, Edward Scissorhands, Gilbert Grape, Sam, Ichabod Crane, Don Juan, Willy Wonka, Captain Jack Sparrow, The Mad Hatter... need we say more? To quote The Vicar of Dibley: "Johnny Please-Use-Your-Scissorhands-To-Snip-My-Pants-Off-Immediately Depp..."

Booking Through Thursday: First Book

2010-08-06T00:10:00.004+08:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted here: http://btt2.wordpress.com/.

This week's BTT is:

What is the first book you remember reading? What is it about the first book that made you really love reading?

I was first introduced to Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew but I never really finished the books. I then got hooked on Sweet Valley Twins when I was still in 5th grade. One of classmates lent me a copy of one of the series. If I remember correctly, the first Sweet Valley Twins book I've ever owned is Elizabeth's First Kiss. Todd and Elizabeth were my first favorite couple. After that I started reading Sweet Valley High. As always, I want to read the whole series but Francine Pascal just continued adding more books. I never got to finish the whole series.

The first book that really made me love reading more is Sidney Sheldon's Rage of Angels. It's the first book that made me cry. Because of that book, I started reading all of Sidney Sheldon's books even if my Literature professor told me that Sidney Sheldon books are crap. Hahaha... I can't still remember him telling the whole class like it was yesterday when in fact, it was 16 years ago. After that the rest is history, I got into Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood Jude Deveraux, etc, etc.

If one can say that there's an addiction on reading, then I have that affliction. I'm a book junkie and I blame it all on Sidney Sheldon. =)

"... Tell us of the secret hosts of evil, O Cimon:

Their names may not be spake aloud lest they profane mortal lips,

for they came out of unholy darkness and attacked the heavens, but they

were driven away by the rage of angels..."

- from Dialogues of Chios

Thursday 13: Best Things that makes TV viewing a pleasure

2010-08-05T18:49:00.002+08:00

13 Best Things that makes TV viewing a pleasure

(In any order)

1. Bones

2. Roswell

3. Numb3rs

4. Dharma and Greg

5. Friends

6. My Secret Identity

7. One Tree Hill

8. Smallville

9. MacGyver

10. Friday Night Lights

11. Dexter

12. America's Next Top Model

13. Amazing Race

What's your list for this Thursday?

Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban

2010-08-04T21:08:00.000+08:00

Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban

To read more, please go to Time's site: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007238,00.html

Teaser Tuesdays: Under Her Skin

2010-08-03T16:26:00.003+08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted byMizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

* Grab your current read.

* Let the book fall open to a random page.

* Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page.

* You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from... that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!

* Spoilers not allowed! XD

Lexi straightened. “You so need a man you can’t push around.”

Dana grinned. “There’s no such animal.”

from Under Her Skin, Susan Mallery

*I had to cheat on this one. The dialogue is just so funny. I did not let it fall on a random page.

Movie Meme: Repeat After Me

2010-08-03T12:40:00.004+08:00

This is a weekly movie meme hosted by The Bumbles Blog.

I missed posting this yesterday. It's supposed to be Monday Movie Meme. But I'll play catch up.

This week is about Highly Quotable Movies. What movies made an impression on you because of its lines? Do you use it in everyday conversation? Or maybe it was memorable because the lines were just so cheesy but you just can't get over it?

Below are the lines I've quoted or used in a conversation at least once.

It's so evil that you have to say it EEE-Ville.
Love means you never have to say I'm sorry.
What's up preppy? (I can't remember if this was the exact line though.)
Do you hear the words that are coming out of my mouth?
Freedom!
Show me the money!
Etc, etc...
Every story has an end. But in life, every ending is just a new beginning.

If you have a topic to suggest for Monday Movie Meme, feel free to visit The Bumbles Blog.

Friday Fill-Ins: July 30

2010-07-30T23:12:00.003+08:00

And...here we go!

1. I'm going to stop playing Jungle Jewels because it won't let me sleep.

2. Bungee Jumping and Sky Diving is what you call adventure and daring.

3. Perhaps today you can make it a point to stop judging me on my reactions. Yes, you. I'm talking to you my so-called friend.

4. Facing your fears and inner demons are a true adventurer’s spirit.

5. Compassion is not a weakness.

6. During lean seasons and hard times, one must stay hopeful, no matter how difficult.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading the book I've been trying to read, tomorrow my plans include buying a new hard drive and Sunday, I want to eat at Paddington House of Pancakes with my one true love (wish…)!

Come on and play!

Thursday 13: Top 13 Most Played Songs in iTunes

2010-07-29T22:29:00.004+08:00

I almost forgot! It's Thursday 13!

The top 13 most played songs in my iTunes library:

1. Our Last Night - Better Than Ezra (212 plays)

2. If A Song Could Get Me You - Marit Larsen (204 plays)

3. Somewhere in the Middle - Dishwalla (127 plays)

4. Sunburn - Fuel (116 plays)

5. Quelqu'un M'a Dit - Carla Bruni (112 plays)

6. Sleep With Butterflies - Tori Amos (112 plays)

7. For You, From Me - Jon McLaughlin (110 plays)

8. Backpacking Around Europe - Yuna (109 plays)

9. Stranded - Plumb (98 plays)

10. Light On - David Cook (91 plays)

11. I Want to Hold Your Hand - TV Carpio (89 plays)

12. Sunburn - Muse (86 plays)

13. Until I Wake Up - Dishwalla (84 plays)

Hmmm... surprising. I didn't know I listen to these songs that much. There's not even a U2 song there.

What's your list about? =)