As another quarter comes to an end, so does my media log. I had fun this quarter, as I always did. What I learned in this quarter is that media greatly affects my mood. If I see a certain show or listen to a song it can make me happy or sad or whatever. Especially Filipinos who are very receptive and emotional, we are easily affected by what we see, hear, feel, etc. But just because we are like that doesn't mean that we should believe and follow everything. But that doesn't necessarily mean that all forms of media are bad, we just need to choose and be careful.

"The Curse of Curves"
BY CUTE IS WHAT WE AIM FOR

I've got the gift of one liners
And you've got the curse of curves
And with this gift I compose words
And the question that comes forward
Are you perspiring from the irony
Or sweating to these lyrics
And this just in
You're a dead fit
But my wit won't allow it
The inside lingo had me at hello
And we go where the money goes

I want someone provocative and talkative
But it's so hard when you're shallow as a shower
And from what I've heard with skin you'll win

Her bone structure screams
"Touch her! Touch her!"
And she's got the curse of the curves
So with the combination of my gift with one liners
And my way, my way with words
It seems I'm too hip to keep tight lips
And you're on the gossip team
You're making something out of nothing
And jealousy is the cause, the causing of grieve
The inside lingo had me at hello
And we go where the money goes

We all have teeth that bite underneath
To where the reality grows
Yeah, that's where mine go
The reality grows...
From what I've heard with skin you'll win
And from what I've heard with skin you'll win

Cute Is What We Aim For is a band that belongs to Fueled by Ramen, an independent record label that also handles bands such as Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, The Academy Is..., etc. I first heard them yesterday watching CD Usa at Channel V, wherein they performed their song, "The Curse of Curves". I already liked this after hearing it for the first time even though I had no idea what the song was about. So I decided to find out what the song really means by finding out about its lyrics.

Its lyrics are written well, my favorite line is "Jealousy is the cause, the causing of grieve.", I like it because it's self-explanatory and because it's true. In my opinion, what the song says is that there is a guy who is good with words (I'm thinking that the guy is the singer of the band.) and a girl who contains outer beauty also sexy and a girl who has opinions of her own and probably a good conversationalist. This is what the guy is looking for in a girl, but since he's shallow, he'd rather chase after girl who are just sexy and beautiful, no brains. I don't know why, but he's getting the short end of the stick. Well, that's what I think the song is about. Maybe it has another meaning or what, but this is what I get from the song.

Sometimes I really have a hard time understanding songs and poetry. They make use of every figurative language there is and then make use of words with multiple meanings. Finding out the real meaning of a song or a poem could go on forever with all the words we have. But even though it could take a while, I'd still try my best to understand it and find out what it's really all about.

Lyrics taken from Sing365

"Ready to Fall"
by RISE AGAINST

I can't really classify myself as an activist, but an activist or not you will really get affected by this video. Rise Against is a band known for having ideals about politics and their society. Of course, they're from USA and they're not that well known here in the Philippines, just saying. Anyways, what I have observed in the video is that Tim McIlrath, the lead vocals, has heterochromia! It's a condition wherein your irises have different colors. Kidding aside, what really grabbed my attention in the video is how the animals suffered. Also, I have known that there was still an uncut version of this video, which is more graphic, so I decided to stay with the edited one. (Who knows what will happen to me if I watch it?)

This video is sort of a testimonial to vegetarianism. I know for a fact that the band Rise Against are active supporters of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). To give you a rundown on PETA, it is the largest animal rights organization in the world, according to PETA, itself. Being an animal lover I have considered joining this organization but unfortunately, I can't live without meat. Although I love vegetables, I just can't resist a juicy cheeseburger once its served before me. So seeing this video made me feel guilty, if you look at the animals in their poor condition you'd want to go there and do something like tell the people off. (Oh, the poor animals.) Also this video removes the stereotype of rock stars being "bad". Rise Against are rock stars who care for animals and they spread that message through their music. I bow down to them. (TRIVIA: Their album where the song "Ready to Fall" is in is titled: "The Sufferer and the Witness". Makes you think, right? Animals=Sufferer, Us=Witness)

"Lying Through Your Teeth"
HEAD AUTOMATICA

Everybody knows you're a liar, why don't I?
I just heard about your lovin' on the side
You're telling tall tales girl
Spinning webs to big to climb
Everybody knows you're a liar, why don't I?

I always knew you were a fraud

You're lying through your teeth
You're not at all, not at all what you seem

Girl your love's so cheap, we been passing you around
There's cheating on your lips and you've been the talk of my town
Fix your mask girl
It's crooked on the side
Everybody knows you're a liar, why don't I?

I can't get enough of this song, the first time that I heard it. I don't know why but it's such a fun song even though it's talking about a girl cheating. I like the song and I like the lyrics, but I can't say the same for the video though. It looks like a Hey Ya* rip-off. Hey Ya, the song by Outkast which had a video similar to this, except it was cooler because of Outkast's different personas. This is actually the first video of Head Automatica that I have seen, all I have of them are mp3s, so this one being a first, I sort of had big expectations. But, oh well, it's just a video and the music is really what it's all about.

Note to self: Next time don't expect too much from music videos. You like the song in the first place, not the video. Again, music is really what it's all about.

Lyrics taken from Azlyrics

* If you want to view Outkast's Hey Ya to see the similarities click this.

SUDOKU

I don't really know where and when the Sudoku fad started here in the Philippines but all I know is that it's spreading. At newspapers there is a daily Sudoku puzzle differing from difficulty day by day. I think it has even replaced the Sunday crossword on newspapers. There are Sudoku puzzles you can download for free care of the Internet. In almost every bookstore there are books on Sudoku that you can purchase. With Sudoku being almost everywhere, people are sure to take notice. I don't know who created this but from the name itself, which is Japanese, let's just think that a Japanese created it. (Another Japanese wonder, from Hello Kitty to anime and now to Sudoku.)

Sudoku is solved by filling all the 9x9 grid and the 3x3 boxes with the digits 1 to 9. Seems so easy, right? But I myself, haven't even finished a single puzzle, I decided to leave it to those who has the patient and the logic to solve one. So instead of sulking and not doing Sudoku puzzles I resolved to just finding more about it and not giving up. So thanks to UNCYCLOPEDIA I have found a way to solve Sudoku in 9 easy steps.




"It's very easy to solve a Sudoku puzzle. Let's start with a simple puzzle."

















"First, you begin by filling in all the ones."

"Then you fill in all the twos."



















"Then you fill in all the threes."



"Then you fill in all the fours, fives, sixes, sevens, eights, and nines. Easy!"











Now, why don't you try a Sudoku puzzle?

Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide

Well, the title doesn't exactly roll of the tongue but then again it can be shortened to "Ned's Declassified" but I feel as though it's incomplete. Anyways, this show which is aired on Nickelodeon is about Ned Bigby (Devon Werkheiser) who faces a lot of problems in his school together with his best friends, Moze (Lindsey Shaw) and Cookie (Daniel Curtis Lee). The reason why there's the word, guide in its title is because Ned gives tips about a certain situation that almost any teenager can encounter, e.g. Crushes, Picture Day, Dares, Rumors, etc. That's why I'll admit that I'm hooked to it.

This show contains a lot of characters that help make the show livelier. There are bullies, popular kids, nerds, jocks, the usual teenage cast. But there were the unusual kind, like the future lawyer, backpack kid, a girl who can only use 23% of her sense of smell, well it's a jam packed cast. This show also makes use of a lot of popular cultures, like in one episode there was a reference to Scooby Doo, wherein a character was made to look like Velma and the classic line at the end, "If it wasn't for those meddling kids!" Also they have a format where a scene is like a sports report.

At the end of the day, I would like to recommend this show for a student who's done doing her homework at the weekends and for a night of a few laughs and giggles.

SIMPSONS CHRISTMAS

I found this video on YouTube attempting to have the mood for our Christmas Party later. It's not that I'm not in the mood for Christmas but it's just because I'm tired and sleepy and I don't want to ruin the Christmas party with my mood. So I thought to find something Christmas related. I tried looking for a song but our Christmas songs CDs seem to have disappeared. Well, since we have technology, I decided to go online. Instead of songs, I just searched videos, and where else to search but in YouTube? But the results that I had when I typed "Christmas" were disappointing. Then I thought of The Simpsons (I don't know why.) and a lot of results came and the choosing was up to me.

I stumbled upon this video wherein Bart makes his own version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Knowing The Simpsons, I knew that there would be a twist in this poem, and well the video takes the cake. It was classic Simpsons style, very humorous and really catches your attention. So after this watching this video, with a few giggles and smiles, I guess I was in the mood already.

SHINOBI: HEART UNDER BLADE

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade is a movie about the rivalry of two ninja clans, Iga and Koga. Yet, their land has been unified and peace reigns until Tokugawa Ieyasu, the highest ruler of Japan, schemes for their destruction in order to achieve total domination. He sees the ninjas as a great obstruction in his plans and therefore thinks of a plot to intensify the rivalry of the two clans. He summons the two clans to have their 5 best warriors to have a fight to the death. Unfortunately star-crossed lovers, Oboro (Nakama Yukie) from the Iga clan and Gennosuke (Odagiri Joe) from the Koga clan were chosen to be the chieftains of their clan. Oboro and Gennosuke who were secretly married are opposed to the plan that Tokugawa has for them, leading to Gennosuke's decision to go to Sumpu together with the other 4 great warriors of Koga in order to find out the reason for their fight, with the Iga clan following. Although Gennosuke's pursuit of peace has begun his comrades on the other hand are keen on fighting. Saying they are of no use once peace reigns stating that they are weapons. There was no way for them to ever attain peace in their clans, they gradually accepted their fate and the soon deaths of their comrades transpired. Until they were the only ones left, they had no other choice but to fight with each other. Gennosuke chose not to defend himself allowing Oboro to win while Tokugawa sent his armies to go and destroy the ninja villages. Oboro begs for him to stop the attacks and to let them live peacefully, knowing about her skill, "The Eyes of Destruction", Tokugawa declines. To show her sincerity, Oboro blinds herself, destroying her most powerful weapon, with that act Tokugawa finally agrees. Oboro has saved both villages and the ninjas continued to live peacefully, according to the movie, their descendants continue to live on until today. (Scary, eh?)

This movie in my opinion had a lot of talented artists. Take Nakama Yukie for instance, she portrayed Oboro, a soft and kind hearted person misplaced in a battlefield who just wants to be with her lover. She had some scenes wherein all that was showing emotion was her face, her body void of motion. Gennosuke, portrayed by Odagiri Joe, also impressed me when he hugged Oboro, (the image in the middle) the scene was so sweet. Although it was just a hug, I really felt how much they loved each other. There was also Hotarubi, the girl in the pink kimono, portrayed by Sawajiri Erika, who just wanted to protect Oboro because Oboro was the only person she's got and the only person who cared for her. There's also Yashamaru, portrayed by Sakaguchi Tak, who had no lines only expressions and amazing fight scenes. The cinematography of this movie is amazing. The landscape shots were breath taking, that it made me want to go to Japan or wherever they shot. The fight scenes were mind-blowing and I was already expecting that, since after all, it is made in Japan, need I say more? All in all this movie was a great balance of action, history and romance. It got me researching about ninjas and all that jazz. Like Hattori Hanzo who was also featured in Kill Bill fictionally. The setting was appropriate for this movie not to mention it got me salivating, I'm envious of the fact that Japan really takes good care of Mother Earth. The costumes were flamboyant, which is a good thing, since ninjas have been stereotyped wearing black jumpers with masks, etc. but they have evolved! Colorful kimonos and fur (Although I am anti-fur), obi belts, scarves, etc. If I was to rate this movie I'd give it 8.5 sushis out of 10 sushis.

Pictures taken from SaruDrama

P.S. Yashamaru is that guy on the left, he seems a bit androgynous but I was attracted to him none the less! Odagiri Joe also gets on my good side.

Full House

A story about love and heartbreak, sadness and self-preservation. A naive, cheerful albeit, somewhat of a recluse writer, Han Ji Eun (Song Hye Gyo) is swindled out of everything she owns. Not by strangers, but her best friends! Stranded in another country, she is determined to get home with the help of an actor, Lee Young Jae (Bi). She borrows money from him and plans to pay him back after landing in Korea, only to find that all which is precious to her has been sold. In an attempt to get her possessions back, she has entered in a contract marriage with Young Jae for three months. It is quite simple, until feelings start to develop. Everyone around them test the "love" Young Jae and Ji Eun have for one another. In spite of it all, Ji Eun manages to be humorous and endearing - even when her heart is breaking. (Taken from Wiki D-Addicts)

This show was aired last two summers ago but I've only watched it recently. See here, I have a thing for popular media, I end up liking them when everyone's forgotten about them. Kind of weird, but that's the way I am. So moving on, this Koreanovela is actually known all over Asia. That's the power of Korean Wave or as they like to call it, "Hallyu". Anyways, the male actor, Lee Young Jae, played by actor, singer, dancer, Rain or Bi, is a person who is weak when it comes to expressing his feelings, I mean, he only got to say "I love you.", to Han Ji Eun (Song Hye Gyo) at the final episode! He has his own special ways in showing how much he cares for a person, like calling her names, making her clean his house and anything else that a slave driver would do. Han Ji Eun, on the other hand would follow his beck and call and clean every nook and cranny inside his house, or rather her house that her deceased father built for her. That's where the name of the series comes in, Full House, a house full of love. But how can it be full of love when they entered themselves into a contract marriage? Well sooner or later, Ji Eun realizes her feelings for Young Jae and even said, "I think I like you.", with Young Jae responding with a laugh and saying, "You're really funny." Of course in a drama it wouldn't be complete without an arch nemesis, namely Young Jae's best friend, who he couldn't even confess his love to, named Kang Hye Won (played by Han Eun Jung), who loves another man who is also Young Jae's friend, Yoo Min Hyuk (Kim Sung Soo). But then Min Hyuk has no intentions of having Hye Won as a partner which then results to Hye Won going to Young Jae and Min Hyuk falling in love with Ji Eun. But later on, Young Jae couldn't seem to stop himself from getting jealous whenever he sees that Ji Eun goes on a date with Min Hyuk, not realizing it himself until the time came when Ji Eun left for a trip and he suddenly calls Hye Won, "Ji Eun". Since I want you (Yes, you, Ms. Platon :P) to watch this series, I won't reveal everything but all in all it's such a good story and it makes you want to hug someone after.

What I liked from this series was first of all (in no particular order), the dialog. There were lines that were cheesy but you wouldn't really care if they were like, "Promise me that you won't let go of my hand until I let go of yours." or, "From now on I'll make you happy. I will protect you.", "She is the most important person for me. She taught me the meaning of happiness. She is the woman I love the most." and, "I love you too much that I think I'll explode." Second, is the plot. As I said before, Koreans have a way of making simple gestures seem so sweet. I mean look at it an actor in a contract marriage with an ordinary girl, living in the same house even before they were married. It doesn't really sound good but Koreans have a way of making it look sweet. Third, is the music, although I pretty much don't understand it and it completes the dramatic and romantic scenes. Except for the song "I Think I" the song was explained to me indirectly by a Korean and says that at first they don't even have the slightest feelings for each other but in the end they start to fall for each other, hence, "I think I love you". (TRIVIA: Last year at the T.H.E. week, II-Banaag sang "I Think I" from Full House, I was included and we won!)

It brings me great joy that after a hard day in school, by 8:00 pm I laze around the couch and hear, "In The Street" by Cheap Trick which signals the beginning of That '70s Show. This sitcom revolves around a group of teenagers who live in Point Place, Wisconsin, (which does not really exist) and tells about their lives and mishaps, which spells comedy. Anyways, Eric Forman (Topher Grace) is the main character with his parents, Kitty and Red Forman (Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith) who lives next next door to Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon) his soon-to-be girlfriend, with his friends, Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), Steven Hyde (Danny Masterson), Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) and Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis). Their group is full of character, Eric, who is whipped by his da; Donna who is Eric's feminist girlfriend; Hyde a rebel and a stoner that you can't seem to hate; Kelso, an unintelligent yet handsome guy and Fez, the foreign exchange student who adapts to American culture.

"Son you don't have bad luck. The reason bad things happen to you? Is Because you're a dumbass."
- Red Forman

What I like about this show ultimately is its plot. Talk about a blast from the past even though I'm not an American I like it (Maybe it's because of our colonial mentality...). It shows what Americans citizens were up against during the '70s in a very comedic manner, like how Eric, Hyde, Kelso and Fez planned to streak in former President Gerald Ford's campaign. What I also like about this show are its elements. They have the split screen effect, which according to Wikipedia, "involves two characters talking to each other about the same topic as two other people with foil viewpoints: almost disturbingly similar but differing in a few major key points for comic effect". They also have "The Circle" in which Eric and his friends do to just talk about life with several jokes on the side. They also use the deadpan humor in which a character delivers a comedic line or action without his expression changing which puts the icing on the cake with their great and sometimes nonsensical dialog. Another thing that I like about this show is that it showcases the music from the '70s, which I, of course, am in favor of and adore.

This show is a great stress reliever and great when just need a time to laugh. Unfortunately I haven't watched all its 8 seasons yet, and I am only on season 2 since JackTv is my only source for watching it. Watching this show made me realize how I like Topher Grace better than Ashton Kutcher.

Addicted to Love

Good-natured astronomer Sam is devastated when the love of his life, Linda, leaves him for a suave Frenchman named Anton. He therefore does what every other normal dumpee would do; go to New York and set up home in the abandoned building opposite his ex-girlfriend's apartment, intent on winning her back and waiting until she decides to leave her current lover. What Sam does not count on is being joined several weeks later by ultra hip tomboy Maggie, a photographer and motor-cyclist that is determined to get revenge on Anton, her ex-fiance. Hostile at first, the two of them eventually join forces in an attempt to separate the couple, and ruin Anton's life. However, complications ensue when Sam and Maggie start falling for each other. (Taken from Amazon)

When I was in third grade I watched this movie together with my mom, since she's a big Meg Ryan fan. I remember rambling about Meg's movie, French Kiss, but I couldn't get to find a copy of French Kiss, so we settled with this at HBO. As a third grader who had nothing to do in a couple of years I forgot all about that movie. Until several days ago I got the chance to watch it again. I was doing my homework, while watching TV (Yes, I know its bad but with the TV on the more I get ideas and the initiative to do my homework. Please don't scold me, Miss Platon. :D) and I got drawn to it. Memories came back of the time when me and my mom were watching it. At the start of the movie I saw the cast overview and I saw the name. "Matthew Broderick". The first that came to mind was Simba from Lion King, second was Sarah Jessica Parker's husband. So I don't really know much about him. But it was a good thing that I watched this movie again, I had no idea when I was in third grade how good it is.

Meg Ryan for me is such a beautiful actress. (My mom's like for her must have rubbed off on me.) I fell in love with her character, Maggie, in this movie. Maggie was a woman scorned and out for revenge. As the saying goes, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Matthew Broderick, who plays Sam, was for me a kind man but a clingy lover. I was entertained by these two vengeful stalkers who have nothing better to do than spy on their ex-lovers and I wonder whether they should be jailed or institutionalized. But all in all, the plot was very original and it gave laughs and sometimes it made you really feel sorry for the French guy that they duped. I was impressed with their acting and now I know that Matthew Broderick isn't only just Simba's voice over. As a fan of romantic comedies I vouch people to watch this movie again and again as I would.