Is Fiction A Waste Of Time?

I love this article so much that I decided to reblog it. And of course I can't help but put my two cents in. So here it goes...

I didn't start loving fiction or reading in general until I reached 11 years old, before that I only love fairy tales, which all girls at that age does. Around my last year in elementary school I discovered that our school's small library contains other books aside from collections of textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias and Sweet Valley High series (don't know if they got the complete collection). You can't really blame me since teachers only tell us to go there to do our project or homework in which cases we only open the Encyclopedia. Now, even if we do have a (very) small library (since only from Grade 3-6 occupies that campus), aside from those I previously mentioned, the other books are nearly invisible to the naked eye. Anyways, one day I came upon a very interesting looking book (forgot what it was, it was a big hard covered one though with a drawing of a Chinese girl or so) and out of curiosity read it. I guess it was a good one since it did made me pick another one and another and another.

So, from what I said above you would have probably guess that I don't really believe in the saying "don't judge a book by its cover", literally that is. Why? There are just millions of books out there under numerous genre and authors. If you do not have a preference in genre or author but loves fictional stories, it is just too impossible to read all of their summaries inside the bookstore or library. You have to first identify though what you are looking for, is it a fictional or nonfictional book (autobiography, documentary, reference book, etc.).

For me, my main interest is in fictions. Four years ago I started preferring suspense that involves serial killing, my favorite is when the story is told using the the killer's perspective. Prior to that, I'd been more into family drama and archeological mysteries kind of stories for most of my life. I love reading these books because I get to convince myself that I have a better life than those characters when reading family dramas and I am living my first dream job, to be an archeologists, when reading archeological mysteries.Secretly though, I think I was just being a masochists. I just love to feel the character's pain and suffering. Now, I think it's the sadist part of me that is seeking satisfaction. Even if I said all these, I had not faced any family drama worth writing about, nor did I discover any worthy artifacts, nor did I wish to kill somebody. So, reading fiction is purely for entertainment purpose for me.

I don't read a random book though out of impulse. My impulse is always equated with what I like for that time. Like when I'd seen one episode of Dexter it triggered me to read a book with similar theme, just so happened that it was originally a novel series. And I love it, the only series (aside from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings) that I bothered to collect, its still on-going now.

When I choose for a book to pick-up what I do is:

1. Identify the genre I prefer or the author I want.


2. Whether I do step 1 or not, I always check the title out.


3. If I find a title interesting I look at the cover (sometimes step 2 and 3 are interchangeable). This also entails how thick or thin I want it to be because there are times when I just want to read it in one sitting.


4. If I like what I see, I read the summary. There are also books that have no summary, in that case I either have to really love the title, author or cover for me to choose it.


5. Based on it I decide whether I want it or not.


6. Finally, I check the price out. I don't have the luxury to afford a book, which I could finish within days or even hours if time permits, costing more than $30 no matter how good the review is.

I always follow these steps not just so I can find a good book but more so that I don't waste a considerable amount of my time reading all of the summaries. Besides, its impossible to stay on one shelf for hours without catching anyone's attention and, since I like to be left alone during this time, it really annoys me when someone will disturb me.

But, in today's modern times, books are becoming more accessible and affordable through the power of the technology. You can already read a story online or via ebook. It does not only save you the energy required to walk around a bookstore or library, it also saves you money and provides mobility. You can read it anywhere, at the bus, on the road, at the park, without the need of bringing anything but your smartphone or tablet, which I presume you always carry around. It also saves you space and helps conserve trees.

For those who are avid fans of a book or collecting a series, like I am for Dexter, paperback and hardcover is still the preferred one. I guess its the sentiment behind owning the book or something. What do you think?

Anyways, for the re-blog posted, I do not own anything. All credits goes to the author Down And Out In The 21st.

ENJOY!

Hamao Kyosuke in Goseiger

I just found out that Hamao Kyosuke, playing Gosei Black/Agri, is the youngest amongst all the actors in Goseiger (the basis of Power Rangers) and the one playing as his young sister is actually the 3rd oldest? I hadn't watched the show since there is none with English sub in Youtube but based on the clip I'd seen, I do agree with this blogger that Gosei Pink seems too exaggerated in her acting.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/tC14A197EBg]

I really don't care about the story honestly because just like Power Rangers, through the years, it tends to get worser though the years. Or maybe it just seems so because we always compare it to its precedent or that we actually did start to grow up and is more critical with the details. kids don't really mind the details much as long as its entertaining. Anyways, I was curious as to what people who had commented re Mao's acting and was actually surprised that there were those that will always think of him as Takumi during the early stage of Goseiger. This just really shows how much of  an impact the the DaiMao tandem have.

Anyways, since this show was already years ago maybe you'd watched it? If so, what are your opinions/comments?

References:

Tensou Sentai Goseiger

Youtube

Mystical Powers - Don't Call Me Weird!! XD

Gaijinside

Who Am I?

I never really thought myself

Mao's movie back in 2009. Title Please?

Mao's movie back in 2009 as Sakura Yuuto. Title Please?

So, I'd just randomly discovered this Live journal (LJ) while browsing the net. Hamao Kyosuke is in  it. Its basically a high school themed movie that he did back in 2009 about a new student attracting the attention of the class. Mao plays as the role of the popular sports prodigy.

Anyone care to translate the title? And do you know any link with eng sub of the movie?

Here's a trailer online.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Pw6uGTO8d_E]

ENJOY ^-^

Thank you very much Topsy

Just want to give a quick thank you to Topsy for saving my tweets from my now deactivated twitter account, teamKHSph, although I don't why its there, hahaha. Anyways, now I could retrieve the important links I'd tweeted. Seriously, most of those links are information that took a lot of research and time. This then made finding my references easier. Again, thank you very much to the team behind Topsy.

References:

Twitter profile for teamkhsph - Topsy

Takumi-Kun Series

Do you love live action BL? Or just love the tandem of Daisuke Watanabe and Hamao Kyosuke? Then better check out this post on Takumi-Kun Series. For those who had nor seen this BL movie, you have just missed a very important movie in the BL genre.

For those not into BL (boys love) movies but curious about it or want to watch one then Takumi-Kun Series is a good start. Just make sure to never miss the 2nd-5th part because these were what made this a very popular and most loved BL movie.

I do not own anything. I'm just re-blogging this because I love and agree with what was written. All credits goes to the original author, filmsargument . Thank you ^-^

Related articles

• [Eng] "Watanabe Daisuke & Hamao Kyosuke's NAKAYOSHI" Talk show on 03/17/2013 (whatinterestme.wordpress.com)

My Thoughts on Windows 8

Author's Note: This is just a random rambling of a disappointed individual, so excuse me if you disagree with what I have to say. Anyways, I originally posted this in my Facebook account but decided to post it here to see if what your thoughts are. 

This is a personal comment/reaction on the following article:

Investor dump Microsoft, PC stocks on bleak news

Honestly, I'm glad I got to buy my lappy before Windows 8 was out because I would have gotten the latter since I was looking forward to it since Microsoft's announcement last year. I used to be one of the enthusiast that believed Windows 8 will give a new definition to innovation (which Jobs did) and take over Apple's position as the leader in the computer industry. But after using a laptop running on Windows 8, I was truly disappointed and thought that maybe I was just not "technology-savvy" enough to appreciate its workings because there were mostly good reviews online. Turns out I'm not alone.

Well, in my opinion, all is not lost for the PC industry yet. Tabs and smartphones still have its limit. There are just a lot you could do in a PC that you can't done correctly in a tab (for now that is). Plus, the PC's bigger screen (13", 14", 17"), which I may point out is the most convenient screen size, is not an ideal dimension for a tab. So unless someone comes up with a way to make these dimensions conveniently portable there is still hope for Microsoft and HP and other such companies struggling nowadays. Microsoft would just have to revamp its Windows 8, this time around they should be more user friendly conscious.

So, how about you?

[polldaddy poll=7056547]

All About Kurt Hugo Schneider: An Introduction - Part1

Are you a music lover and a YouTuber? If you are then you most probably know this guy. If not, then believe me that he is a very famous internet celebrity. Search for him in Google or other search engine, you'll be directed to millions of results. He is even associated with famous TV personalities like Nickelodeon stars Max Schneider and Victoria Justice. But of all the people he worked with, he's most popularly associated with neighbor/alumnus/colleague/friend, Sam Tsui, "the face of the Schneider Youtube brand" (quoted from Sarah Yager).

Kurt's first viral video had been praised by Time Magazine in 2009. He also appeared in shows like Ellen (2010), Oprah (2010), and Bonnie Hunt (2009). In 2011, Kurt's cover video with Sam was posted in Britney Spears' official site. In the same year, Business Insider included him in the list of The World's Most Powerful YouTube Stars and the top 1 in their YouTube Thought These People Were Going To Make $100,000. And to top the year, he signed with renowned music publisher Steve Lindsey, the same publisher of Bruno Mars' debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, and now with Grind Management. By 2012, he partnered with Alloy Digital, a big distribution company. Shared the stage with Shontelle and 3 other Youtube stars including Sam in 2013 singing Impossible.

At a young age of 24, Kurt had already built a name for himself in the industry. It is also notable to mention that through the years, he had been nominated and won different awards both in the academe and professional world. And to add to his very impressive portfolio is his latest and biggest independent project for 2013, Sam's first all original album, Sam Tsui The Debut Album. To cut this all short, Kurt Hugo Schneider is just starting, so watch out Hollywood.

So, who is Kurt Hugo Schneider really and what's the big fuss about him?

Smartphone Requirements: What I Look For

Samsung Galaxy S4 is has been released to the market this month. Never tried the actual device myself. But I was wondering, would it be better to get this or wait for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 instead? I was really planning on waiting for the latter once I get a job because I want a smartphone that is power pack in terms of battery life. If Note 2, with Li-ion 3100 mAh battery, has a very good battery life performance I'm pretty sure Note 3 would be at par or, if not, exceed its precedent. However, with the battery/charging problem of my current Samsung Galaxy Y (just 1.5 years with me, a short time for me) I don't think it will survive for another month. So my next option is to decide between Note2 and S4, with Li-Ion 2600 mAh battery.

This new smartphone launched by Samsung promises a lot of new features making life more convenient. But then again, isn't that always the case for new smartphones?

So, what should you look at when you choose a smartphone? For practicality purpose, let's not look into what the new features this Mobile companies are offering. For me, the following are my basic requirements:

1. Call and SMS feature of course


2. Battery life since I love to play songs and videos especially when on the road


3. Large RAM, ideally 2 GB


4. Expandable memory of up to 32 GB as much as possible


5. Big screen, for me touch screens are hard to operate with just one hand plus its hard to type in a small keyboard when you have chubby fingers as I realized with Galaxy Y. plus, its way better to watch videos in a bigger screen.


6. Speaker's quality, I might just need to use it in an event.


7. FM and wifi of course


8. Camera with flash because I already sold my DSLR


9. Front camera just so i could have a video chat without opening the computer


10. Other features

Of these 10, only the Top 5 requirements are what I really check into.

What's your top requirements?

Sunday Service at North Point: Why are you afraid?

Late 2011 or early 2012, a peer invited our barkada to attend a Sunday service back at home. It took us weeks before we got to attend that service. So what would you expect if you are to attend a different Sunday service? Would Love, Sex, and Dating be part of it? How about if you are told that the talk would be about the new rules for these things? If you are to tell me that the pastor was openly talking about all these then I would probably think that you're crazy. So imagine my shock when I stepped in and heard it myself. I don't know with the other services and cultures but coming from a conservative Church I was really flabbergasted to receive this postcard (just got this picture online).

After that first day we decided to attend again and again and again. The talk was really interesting not just because of the topic but most especially because of how the pastor related the Bible's teachings to the modern era. The pastor, Les Tilka,was also commendable. He not only captured our 100% attention but he also amazed me with how easy it was to understand what he was saying because most of the foreigners' accent back home were hard to understand. As a young person, I was able to understand more how to apply Jesus' teaching in my life. I am not a Religious person so being able to grasp a clear understanding of the Bible was truly an amazing experience for me (and for my friends too).

Anyways, enough of that eventful Sunday, that is for another day's topic. Yesterday's series is the focus of this post.

The series Follow started last April 7, 2013, yesterday, April 21, was the 3rd part of this series. So far, of the first 3 parts this struck me the most because it was the very answer to my current dilemma. The topic did not really gave me a solution but it did remind me that I should not fear what may happen because God has a reason. Whatever will happen will happen, I just have to accept it whether good or bad because at the end of the road there is a silver lining. I will never forget the questions "Why are you afraid? Don't you have faith?" At the moment when Andy Stanley, the pastor, said those it was at the same moment when it made me realize how inconspicuously God answers our doubts. The most funny thing is Pastor Andy's example is about joblessness, which is my biggest dilemma now, and he even repeated this word over and over again throughout the service.

However, even though I said all these I am still not in that level where my faith never waivers. For all those whose faith never waivers, if you exist, I really salute you. Life is indeed full of unexpected twist and even though most, if not all, are aware that it is part of God's Plan we still doubt where it will take us. it is not easy to Follow Jesus' teachings but its even harder to put your complete faith in God's hands even though you said time and time again that you have complete faith.

Now, this is a very interesting everyday topic. No matter what we are doing or will be doing, we are always expecting some kind of result at the end. It is kind of frustrating when the end result isn't what you hoped for that sometimes we tend to blame someone or something as part of our defense mechanism. Sometimes, we tend to indirectly place this blame on God. It is time to sit back and think, what is it really like to completely Follow?

Oh, you might still be wondering what this Sunday Service is, its North Point Community Church. You can actually attend the service online via live webcast, which is what me and my roommates do. Just check the schedule on their website. Hopefully you are also enlightened with this.

Just got Spotify!

Singapore Job Hunting 101: Time Constraints

Are you an expat in Singapore, holding onto a Visit Pass, hopeful for a chance to work here or plans to do so? If you are then go ahead and read this article otherwise, you have an option to disregard this or to proceed out of curiosity.



The Singapore job market is very abundant with openings from all categories but are you qualified? The most important thing to remember when in this country is the Government's restrictions on Companies hiring foreign employees so you will mostly encounter jobs that are for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents only. So whether you are highly competent in the field it does not always guarantee you a good opening. Years ago, this is a haven for foreigners looking for jobs in this open country however, due to "supposed anger from “ordinary Singaporeans” to foreign workers supposedly taking their jobs and using their facilities" (as quoted from Chris Reed's article) Ministry of Manpower is now imposing stricter regulations on Companies. Keep in mind though that there is a certain reason why Companies do hire foreigners and what is the root of this supposed anger but that is for another article.

All is not lost yet as there are still Companies willing to hire foreigners though it will be though to point who they are.

So, you ask yourself, what is the best way to get a job interview when I got a limited time? Job search sites and newspapers are definitely a good way to find job openings however, you cannot get through all of them one-by-one if you want to maximize your time. My advice is:

1. Know what position you want or is qualified for.


2. Tailor your cover letter and resume for the position you want to apply for. I would highly suggest to have only one position in mind however, if you cannot decide on a certain position then just make a general cover letter. Remember to state in your letter that you are a foreigner and what your pass status is (find other information in Gateway's article)


3. Go through all the jobs vacancies you find online


4. Look for the companies page or website


5. Open one job ad


6. Look for the words Singaporeans or PRs or Dependent Pass only


7. If no such phrase is posted then get their email address. If you find that phrase then disregard that company and continue looking.


8. At the end of the day, compile all the email addresses.


9. Then when morning comes, send your resume and cover letter to the gathered email addresses (just BCC these email addresses).The trickiest part is coming up with the Subject title to catch the recipients attention.

This technique is not a guarantee that you will be called for interviews, there might also be some who will tell you that they have no quota for foreigners or no opening qualified for you. But this is definitely time saving and you may never know when one of those Companies might just have an opening for you.

There might also be times when they will be offering you a different position. Don't be choosy, if you think you can perform the job then grab it. Remember that your length of stay in the country is solely dependent on your work permit, S Pass, or E Pass.

Once you get that interview, give it all you can. Find other tips on Amit Puri's article.