I remember when I was still waiting for employment to Malaysia, I paid a visit to a nearby butterfly sanctuary in SSS Village, Marikina City. It was when MCF’s administration that built the House of Butterflies. For visitors, you have to pay 10 pesos, I think, for you to visit the place. It is a small decent garden with a lot of floral plants.

And so, I tried this reverse ring that can take macro shots even without a macro lens! You just have to deal with manual focusing. I prefer using a prime lens, in my case, a Nikkor 50mm 1.8f , because it still has aperture blades that you can select so you still can control the light passing through the reversed lens and bokeh.

When I signed up for a web host and domain, Godaddy provided me a $75 Google Adwords coupon that I could use to boost internet traffic to my site. This is for first time customers only. But did you know that Google is very generous that you can receive another coupon from them?

You would need to sign up for a new account for this to happen with a new email address and phone number. Google will review your application and they will email it to you hours after you requested for it.

https://services.google.com/fb/forms/adwordscoupon/

I tweeted before that Lady Gaga is going to have her concert in Singapore this May. Since I already planned for a Phuket vacation by the end of April until first week of May, definitely, I will miss the Hong Kong concert. So that gives me time to contemplate if I shall go, once again, to Singapore to see Lady Gaga live!

The Born This Way Ball

According to her site, this is The Born This Way Ball concert itinerary:

• April 27 – Seoul, South Korea – Olympic Stadium – On sale tbc
• May 2- Hong Kong – AsiaWorld Arena – On sale Feb 27
• May 10 – Tokyo, Japan – Saitama Super Arena – On sale Mar 11
• May 28 – Singapore Indoor Stadium – On sale Feb 27
• Jun 7 – Auckland, New Zealand – Vector Arena – On sale Feb 17
• Jun 13 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre – On sale Feb 17
• Jun 20 – Sydney, Australia – Allphones Arena – On sale Feb 17
• Jun 21 – Sydney, Australia – Allphones Arena – On sale Feb 17
• Jun 27 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena – On sale Feb 17
• Jun 28 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena – On sale Feb 17
• Jul 7 – Perth, Australia – Burswood Dome – On sale Feb 17

According to Edward Ying, Singtel’s Chief of Multimedia,

We brought Lady GaGa to Singapore when we launched SingTel’s award-winning AMPed music service in 2009. Just as Lady GaGa has risen to the top of the music world over the last two years, AMPed has also grown to be the number one music service in Singapore, with more than 300,000 customers. We’ve decided to bring her back because her compelling and contemporary music style resonates very well with Singaporeans. More importantly, she will add panache to the launch of a whole new set of awesome features that will ensure AMPed redefines the digital music industry in the years ahead.

You can also Like! its concert tour page on Facebook.

Do people around you love to criticize whatever work you do even for the smallest things? Also, do you sense that they keep on backfighting and talking nasty things behind your back? Let me sum it up, it is crab mentality.

According to Wikipedia,

Crab mentality, sometimes referred to as crabs in the bucket, describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase “if I can’t have it, neither can you.” The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs. Individually, the crabs could easily escape from the pot, but instead, they grab at each other in a useless “king of the hill” competition (or sabotage) which prevents any from escaping and ensures their collective demise. The analogy in human behavior is that of a group that will attempt to “pull down” (negate or diminish the importance of) any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy, conspiracy or competitive feelings.

Your reputation and everything you have worked for, especially when talking about work environment, can be very stressful if you are a victim of crab mentality. First thing that would come into your mind is, “Why me?”

It could be that there is nothing wrong with you. As a matter of fact, positively thinking, you have good characteristics which brings insecurity to others. Nevertheless, do not feel pressured just in case anxiety and stress attack because of this. I would recommend you do the following:

Staying away from bad vibes, bad people.

People around you may put you down for whatever reason so they can put themselves up. Create a new circle of people that brings a multitude of colorful fountain that will help hoist your spirits up. If you stay with negative-thinking people, the tendency is, you will just be sunk in their holes.

Talk with someone.

Never keep it to yourself. Pick someone from your friends or relatives whom you trust most. Tell things what your heart cries out. It may lead to depression if you do not share your feelings when anxiety builds up.

Also, you can write a blog, in which I am doing. Rant it all out, just make sure that you are aware of whatever you write online.

One thing I learned during my spiritual retreat is to find a place where you can think, just by yourself or with someone who is very close to you. Write whatever you wanted to say on a piece of paper. Say a little prayer and burn it to ashes. This will definitely help you in relieving the stress that brings when someone puts you down constantly.

Do not be disheartened by these people. Find new activities outside of work that can help you forget things temporarily. Join a gym club or continue your hobby. By this, it will help you not to keep thinking what could you have done wrong or how to put up a revenge.

Stay optimistic and be nice.

Apply the golden rule. Sometimes, it is not bad to believe in karma. Attract positive vibes from the universe and for sure, she will give it you.

Practice affirmations.

Never lose confidence with yourself especially when presented with tons of negativity around you. You can always counteract with subliminal messages and fill your mind, heart and spirit with positive thoughts each day you breathe. Whenever you are feeling sullen, repeat this simple  subliminal messages:

I am the author of my life.
I know that I am a good person.
I am self-reliant and very strong.
I have a wall that keeps negative people away from me.

Have you been playing songs on Spotify? If your account has been connected with your Facebook and if you are from the United States, your data could have been included in this Facebook Valentine Experiment.

With Valentine day set tomorrow, Facebook enlists the songs people listen to when entering into a relationship and after ending it:

Entering a relationship:

1. Jason Derulo – Don’t Wanna Go Home
2. Beyoncé – Love On Top
3. Lil Wayne – How to Love
4. Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are
5. Flo Rida – Good Feeling
6. Jason Derulo – It Girl
7. Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine – Stereo Hearts
8. Britney Spears – Criminal
9. Wiz Khalifa – No Sleep
10. John Mayer – Free Fallin’

Ending a relationship:

1. Mumford and Sons – The Cave
2. Drake ft. The Weekend – Crew Love
3. Kanye West – All of the Lights
4. Adele – Rolling in the Deep
5. Drake ft. Rihanna – Take Care
6. Bruno Mars – It Will Rain
7. Rihanna and Calvin Harris – We Found Love
8. Foster the People – Call It What You Want
9. Selena Gomez and the Scene – Love You Like a Love Song
10. David Guetta featuring Usher – Without You

Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Shu-How Lin, a few of those Asian Americans from Harvard is now playing in the NBA. Apart from his race and his phenomenal achievements for the New York Knicks against LA Lakers which gave the team a 4 straight win, what makes him special?

People struggle to achieve their dreams and goals. Jeremy conquered these and now, he’s at his peak, yet. Applying what he has learned in life can be beneficial to you, too.

1. Never stop believing in yourself.
As mentioned, he is those of few, who entered NBA despite of his race and where he graduated from.

2. Grab the opportunity while it is still hot.
Popular players from Knicks could not play because they were injured. Also, Baron Davis was gone and some of the guards were, too so they had to start from Lin. Great opportunities do not come often, so when you see it, grab it like a boss!

3. Go back to your roots, be family-oriented.
Everyone else may turn their backs on you, but not your family.

4. Do not be a copycat, be original, be yourself.
You do not want to be tagged as a shadow of someone else’s. Famous people are known because of their unique character. Most people who imitate do not reach the premier.

5. Work harder.
When everything has been served, support, opportunity, luck and the motivation, do not lose the momentum. Keep on going and go forth. Also, stay humble.

Here are the tracklists of your favorite Les Mills programs. This is for the 1st quarter release, 2012.

Body Jam 60

Body Combat 51

Body Balance 56

Body Pump 81

RPM 54

Sh'bam 7

Body Step 87

Body Attack 76

Body Vive 22

Title: Man on Wire
Year: 2008
Director: James Marsh
Actor: Philippe Petit (himself)
Duration: 90 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Rating: PG 13

Man on Wire

Plot

Past after 7 in the morning at Manhattan, New York City when Philippe Petit danced on wire between the twin towers of the former World Trade Center. For many years since he was 16, he dreamed of walking on these buildings when he first saw the news on a local newspaper in France, that the buildings were still being built while waiting for his dental appointment. He says that he can withstand the pain of a toothache for a week but not the joy of walking on clouds for many years.

The film shows how Phillipe conquered walking on wire on the Notre Dam Cathedral in Paris, France and Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia. Several of his friends also shares how they planned that day of August 7, 1974, the day when Phillipe crossed the two towers for 45 minutes for 8 times. He was charged Trespassing and Behavioral Misconduct and then dropped after agreeing with the city mayor to perform several shows in the city.

Moral

Petite is a rebellious Frenchman who taught himself how to juggle and walk on wire by himself. At first, he had the talent and artistry. It is his passion, perseverance and love for what he is doing best moved me until the film finishes. Not to mention the criticality and how high his dreams were, Petit is a living proof that impossible things can be achieved.

Treatment and Structure

How the interviews were conducted is very outstanding. The people clearly showed how they were also moved by Petit’s dream to walk on clouds. The humor of the interviewees gives a light feeling as you hyperventilate at the height where Petit walked with a thin wire at Paris, Sydney and New York.

A solo piano piece pierces my heart when it plays after an hour and a half long of build up of plans to walk on top of the towers when Petit finally stepped on the wire, when the interviewees cried as they shares joy and fulfilment and when you can relate the feeling of achieving your own dreams with your hardwork and perseverance.

Technicalities

Only pictures are shown when Phillipe walked on wire between the towers. This maybe because that the person who is supposed to take the video got too exhausted pulling the 1000-lbs wire when it slipped while they were setting it up before the sun rises. The pictures taken by Jean-Louis Blondeau were astounding!

The lighting director used Rembrandt technique. Also, Marsh has selected good soundtrack as Petit progress with his dreams. The re-enactment, costumes and black and white effect added impeccable contemplation that brings you back to 1970s.

Galleries

Pictures are copyrighted by Blondeau, Discovery Films and BBC Storyville. You may check Blondeau’s website for Phillipe’s pictures.