Friggin' Sick x_x

I'm sick and yet I'm still at work. It's not that I'm really busy and all; however, isnt getting sick a warning sign to stop working your ass out and get some break? lol. I have been having a hard time breathing due to runny nose and mild cough. Sooner or later, I'd feel feverish and dizzy. It's a good thing that I can still manage. And more importantly, it's Friday.  Since it's the last day of the workweek, I just forced myself to report for duty despite my condition.

It really sucks to get sick, especially if you have so many things to do. It's either you're working so hard that you end up taking your health for granted or you're really taking your health for granted. haha. Anyway, I just hope I can get through this sickness of mine while I'm still not that busy. I have to get myself prepared for the next busy weeks. Just grateful that I dont have a lot of burdens nowadays. And while I'm worrying about this simple or common illness, other people are suffering from more serious health conditions.

Manga 101

Reading comics has been a popular hobby for so many people of all ages, particularly in Western countries. While some read comics while commuting to and from their work or school, some folks make reading or collecting comics a habit; it has even become an obsession for other people. I can still remember the time wherein my friends and I would really do our best to either convince our parents to buy us certain comics or let us lend from our neighbors. Comics is indeed a good way to past up the time while also enhancing your imagination.

For Japanese people, comics is called manga; meaning, whimsical images. Manga has been available throughout the beginning of the 20th century; however, it was only after the World War II that it became so famous and in demand. It's because manga, for both the ordinary citizens and the artists themselves, has been their way of dealing with the anxiety and devastation brought about by the war. From then on, manga, followed by the creation of various anime, became a crucial part of the Japanese society.

The manga's existence can be traced down from the Japanese tradition of narrative art or telling stories with a series of sequential images. As such, the use of scroll paintings heavily-influenced the manifestation and boom of manga. Japanese comics are commonly attributed to Toba Sojo, an 11th-century painter-priest with a whimsical sense of humor. Toba's choju giga or animal scroll paints have become a part of manga's or Japanese comics' prominent history.

Later on, Shimoboku Ooka created the Toba-e or “Toba pictures” as an acknowledgment of Toba Sojo's influence on manga. Toba-e is an 18th century style of humorous images bound in books which relied on visual humor and the use of few words in an accordion style.    

Katsushika Hokusai, a famous 19th century ukiyo-e or "floating world pictures" artist and printmaker is perhaps the first one to make use of the term "manga" when he referred to some of his comic sketches as "careless" (man) "drawings" (ga). He was one of the many influential artists in the development of modern manga. Hokusai is known all over the world for his woodblock print images, particularly the "The 36 Views of Mount Fuji."  

to be continued... :D

Who's Got The Eye?

I like images, photos and stuff like that. It always mazaes me how some people can capture breathtaking moments, sceneries and even funny or memorable stolen shots. For me, the best photographers are those who can find the right angle and the proper timing. Not everyone can simply point and shoot and then be able to achieve really great photos. It takes a good eye to catch a good picture. 

While photography can be learned, for me, it is a form of art accomplished only by those who are given the extraordinary eye and mind; to catch a prospect and build unique concepts out of it. And mind you, though I can appreciate people who have good skills in terms of enhancing photos or images, I'd still prefer raw photos taken out of talent and perfect timing.

Now let me share to you some of the photos that really caught my interest. These photos were taken either coincidentally or through a perfect timing and a good eyesight:

Are they not fun and cool to look at? :D

Dont Play With Your Veggies?

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables have been proven helpful in terms of maintaining a better kind of health and lifestyle. Though there are manufactured vegetables carrying various chemicals and other hazardous ingredients, the consumption of veggies, in general, is very essential to one's optimum wellbeing.

However, you can observe that a lot of people are not inclined into eating their veggies. Either those people were not trained to do so or they actually chose not to eat such things. Considering the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, I can easily understand why most moms would try to force their children to take them in various forms. It's not like you're gonna die after chewing those green leafy veggies' it's more of like adding longer days to your life.

Many children are not fond of vegetables and even fruits. Some would even live to despise and avoid it as much as they can. But how about if you teach your children some fun ways to deal with their veggies? Why dont you let them play with their veggies just before cooking them? I'm not saying that you let them juggle the vegetables or let the kids roll them on the floor and things like that. What I mean is that.. why dont you try doing this to your veggies? :D

Are they not fun to look at and eat? ahahaha ;)

On the other hand, I truly salute to those who can perfectly create miniature foods such as these:

 Are these for real? Well, I know they're not edible. But I cant imagine how they make all these tiny detailed things... :D

Amazing Hand And Paper Art

It always amazes me how some people can be so creative even with just the simplest of things. I am a fan of art; from paintings to raw photos and other means of displaying artistic abilities, I'd always find myself sighing with pleasure. Just how blessed those artistic people are... I like art and I also aspire to produce my own works of art; but it seems I dont have enough motivation yet or I just dont have the talent for that. LOL.

When it comes to art, I always thought that those people who posses the ability to express their thoughts and emotions through any medium that no others can easily accomplish are truly gifted. Though some forms of art can be learned or experimented, it would still take an artistic mind to create a unique masterpiece. And I certainly love those artists who would incorporate the use of things which are usually taken for granted by many. It amazes me more if the artist would use a medium as plain as a white sheet of paper or the hands of a person.

Just like the following hand art and paper art that I'm going to share to you: 

 I don't think I have the patience and skills to do this.. Just look at the concept, dude. :(

Look at the details! Aren't they truly amazing? *sigh*

Breathtaking Seclusion

When it comes to privacy, I always see to it that I can enjoy my right to have one. I get easily irritated with too much noise. So for me, living in a crowded and dirty neighborhood is like living in hell. I am kind of an OC person; thus unorganized stuff and messy places would surely make me sick. I dont fancy listening to loud music or staying in a place where dfferent voices and sources of noise would try to break my eardrums. But it doesnt mean I dont like to mingle with other people or that I want to be alone. I'm a fun-loving individual, but in moderation.

Seclusion, for me, is either a form of punishment or an exaggerated version of privacy. You dont have to seclude yourself from everyone else if your issue is as simple as privacy. If you cant help but live in a house with many households, you can, at least, spend some time in other peaceful place to enjoy your break. Either you stay one night or two at your friend's house or rent a temporary place of your own.

Now let me share to you some photos of houses wherein seclusion hasnt been taken lightly. I dont know if these are real photos, though:

Well, I can live in this place provided I have a good Internet connection and other needs. But I guess this would do as just a vacation spot. :)

I don't think this place is far away from civilization; but I'd easily get lost here. Though staying here for a month would be kind of challenging. ;)

Not sure what kind of place is this or if I can really find this one for real. But it kinda looks amazing. :D

I dont think it's quite hard living in this place. I'd surely love it here! :D

Umbrellas I'd Love To Have

I dont really fancy using umbrellas since I'm not a lover of the rain or rainy days. Though I love to sleep when it's raining outside, I just cant stand a cold weather for a very long time. And more importantly, I hate to run errands or go somewhere else than our house when it's raining so hard; even tiny drops of rain wetting my skin would piss me off. So whenever the rain's pouring relentlessly outside any facility I'm in, either I'd keep on praying that it would stop or I'm at home and have no other business concerning traveling. :D

For me, umbrellas can give you a sense of inconvenience and discomfort. Well, I'm not really against the use of umbrellas or the presence of rain. I know umbrellas are beneficial and that rain is essential. However, I don't really like both. But - - - if I am given one of these umbrellas, I'd surely love to dance in the rain:

The Samurai Umbrella

just.. wow! :D

Now, the boring grip or handle of your umbrella would have the resemblance of a Japanese Sword or Katana.. :D

The Lightsaber Umbrella

 Clicking the button on the handle will illuminate the entire shaft of the umbrella. The illuminated shaft will then look like  Jedi's lightsaber from Star Wars. Ain't it cool? :D


The Handbag Umbrella

Since I find wet umbrellas inconvenient and uncomfortable to have with you anywhere you go, I think this kind of umbrella could actually satisfy my needs.

You can also find other cool designs of umbrellas by clicking here...

Prevention Is Still Better Than Cure

Prevention, in various aspects, is perhaps one of the most taken for granted actions by humans. The worst thing is that most people know the importance of prevention and how it can be done yet they keep on doing the opposite. As a result, instead of being able to avoid any dilemmas from coming your way, you are likely to deal with more trouble that you'd certainly regret all your life.

Not following any preventive measures is usually noticeable in people's health and lifestyle. You can see a lot of people suffering from various health conditions that they can actually prevent from happening. Either such folks dont know how to prevent a certain disease from manifesting or they are, like most people do, ignoring the essence of effective prevention methods. Even cancer can be prevented just like obesity, high blood pressure and other diseases which are taking a toll on many people's health and overall wellbeing.

Just as how effective and powerful prevention is  when it comes to our health and lifestyle, the same goes for the manner by which we are interacting with our families, friends and other folks around us. Embracing the importance of prevention can certainly avoid any forms of misunderstandings, pointless arguments and the like. Prevention can retain the beauty and wonder of relationship. If you see to that you can prevent from doing anything harmful to your friends or partner in life, you can be assured of a peaceful and harmonious living.

Taking Risks and Chances ^_^

Lately, I've been dealing with a lot of circumstances wherein I need to decide whether or not I should take chances. I'm at the crossroad wherein I am faced with situations entangled with complicated forms of risks. Though I had a hard time making up my mind, I knew I had to take one step forward; or I'll end up regretting not doing anything. As you can see, not doing anything is more regretful than doing something bad or wrong. We all are given chances to correct our mistakes; so why not take the risks?

Life is about making choices. What happens n your life depends on how courageous you are in decding which risks to take and not. There are loads of paths to take; whatever you choose, it will lead you to something that you truly deserve. Things happen for a reason and chances are given according to your needs or the situation that you're n. Though you may find that some options are quite puzzling, it is only after you carefully weigh things out and consider what your heart is calling out for that you can come up with the best decision for future remarkable results. 

The risks that you tend to face in your daily life may bring forth harm or dilemmas if you simply take it lightly. Choices should be made for the better. Taking risks would either help you grow or ruin your life; it all depends on yur manner of thinking. But we are bron as rational individuals. Think hard before making decisions particularly if it concerns serious matters in your life. As for me, though I'm not really a decisive kind of person, it is through the support and guidance of my friends that I am able to surpass it all.

The Power of S.S.S pt.2

Here is the continuation of my previous post regarding The Power of S.S.S:

Slow to Speak
"The wounds created by your words are harder and longer to heal than the words inflicted by a sword."

Some people are quite tactless not just with their actions but more frequently with their words. Because many people like to talk more than listen, they tend to say things which are not actually called for. Many forms of relationship, including friendship, are destroyed through harsh words or untrue statements. If you don't think before you speak, you would have more chances of either not telling the truth or saying things which can only hurt other people. I guess it's better to talk less but with sense than talk more about something that is only useless or destructive.


- Passive speakers are those who don't relay the message they intend to share in the right or appropriate manner. This may result to misunderstanding. Passive people are known to be the silent types. They prefer not to talk that much even if needed. Though being passive can be, at times, beneficial, it can also bring forth more harm to others than lend help.

- Aggressive ones are prone to insisting what they want or believe in despite the arguments and possible consequences. They are like stubborn kinds of people. They voice out anything they wish to. They don't look before they leap. This results to more confrontations and unnecessary arguments.

- Assertive speakers are more mature. They are more aware of what they say or do. They choose when to assert their points and when to stop talking. Assertive ones choose to observe first, then listen and eventually blurt out their ideas and opinions. They are positive and inspiring speakers. Being assertive means respecting what others have to say and learning how to say no or disagree without losing your ground.

And again, “Be quick to listen, be slow to speak.”

Slow to Anger
While you can learn how to efficiently control your thoughts or discipline yourself when it comes to listening and speaking, it is quite difficult to always refrain yourself from getting angry. Sometimes, outburst of emotions are harder to manage than careless talking. Some people who managed to discipline their ways of talking and listening are having a hard time dealing with such emotion. Though you may be a person who knows how to handle your anger, there will always come a time that you'd certainly lose composure.

It's not necessarily that you have to get rid of your anger as it is not something that you can easily throw off. Just do your best to discard any situations that could light up the fury dwelling deep inside of you. "Be kind even to your enemies; for you will heap coals of fire on his head." Instead of entertaining your anger towards another individual, do your best to divert such negative emotion into kindness. And the moment you can feel a surge of anger running through your nerves, practice heavy breathing while looking into the brighter side of things. Deal with any issues without a hint of anger for more favorable results.

Embracing The Power of S.S.S

Do you know what S.S.S stands for? Are you not aware of the power of SSS in our daily lives? Well, for one who doesn't know the real meaning behind SSS, it is likely that you are not actually living a favorable kind of life; something like you are not efficiently dealing with the people around you, including your friends and loved ones.

The definition or explanation of the power of SSS can somehow be found in the Bible; in the book of James, chapter 1 and verse 19 to 21. SSS tackles the essence of effective listening, careful speaking and the ability to refrain yourself from getting angry easily; particularly if the reasons are yet unclear. In short, SSS means = Swift to hear, Slow to speak and Slow to anger.

Swift to Hear
Listening is perhaps the hardest skill to master. It may take some time and a great deal of effort to listen constructively. More often than not, people like to talk than listen even if the moment is already asking for some kind of silence. There are people who just don't know how to stop talking. That nullifies the essence of effective listening.

We all should learn how to stop, give way and take time to listen. But there are times that simple listening is never enough to fully understand what the other person is saying. Sometimes, it's still impossible to hear or understand what a person is truly saying even if he or she is already shouting. And usually, not learning how to listen well is the root of many forms of misunderstanding and the feeling of being taken for granted. Basically, listening is equal to understanding.

There are two types of listeners:

- Emphatic
People who practice emphatic listening are good debaters and negotiators. They are positive listeners. They are converting negative feedbacks into constructive criticisms. Emphatic listening is an effective type of listening wherein one is able to hear the unspoken and unheard.

- Reactive or Destructive
Reactive listeners tend to be judgmental and exaggerated. Since these are not really good listeners, they tend to fabricate false stories. They swiftly react or speak than listen first. They are most likely the source of misunderstandings and gossips.

Instead of listening to what is being said, try to pay attention to what’s not being said, or what’s being said with emotion and body language. See beneath the obvious through sincerity and humility. Listen carefully without prejudice or taking sides. You don't always have to say something; sometimes, words are meaningless when it comes to making others feel your support. If you are not in the mood to listen or is also preoccupied of your own issues and burdens. they say so. Stop pretending that you are all ears. You don't have to agree, but make sure you understand. Put yourself in other's shoes.

“Be quick to listen and be slow to speak.”