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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

TOP FIVE MOST MEMORABLE PINOY MERMAIDS ON TV

The two giant tv stations are about to release their very own mermaid-serye (GMA 7 will have Kambal Serena while ABS-CBN will have their very own adaptation of Dyesebel) and it's going to be an intense battle in terms of their ratings indeed but having such series is not really new and surprising to us because we have seen several "fantaserye" featuring the same creature for the past decade. Listed below are five of the most notable pinoy mermaids on tv. I'm wondering if the two upcoming series will leave the same huge mark like what these shows did.
TOP FIVE MOST MEMORABLE PINOY MERMAIDS ON TV
Author's Note : This entry is listed subjectively. 

TOP 5 MOST MEMORABLE PINOY MERMAID ON TV
"DYOSA AGUA"
(PORTRAYED BY ANNE CURTIS / DYOSA)
Even before grabbing the role of being the new Dyesebel in the upcoming series of ABS-CBN, Anne Curtis already played a mermaid role in one of her iconic series ~ Dyosa. Well, Dyosa Agua is only one of her three forms alongside with Dyosa Cielo (winged form) and Dyosa Tierra (centaur-like form). The story is about a girl named Josephine Cruz who discovers that she has the power of earth , wind and water. In order to fulfill her destiny, the goddess must balance out the forces between the Kabanwas and the Kasamyans so that she can save the humankind from evil. When Josephine transforms into Dyosa Agua, it gives her the ability to swim gracefully under the sea and also to manipulate water to form powerful whirlpools against the enemies. 

TOP 4 MOST MEMORABLE PINOY MERMAID ON TV
"ARYANA"
(PORTRAYED BY ELLA CRUZ/ ARYANA)
Aryana is probably the most modern mermaid you could ever find. It tells as story of a young girl who struggles in the awkward yet exciting adolescence stage while trying to escape her inevitable as  mermaid in her fourteenth birthday. It all started when Neptuna's daughter get killed and as  revenge, she cursed Ofelia and Victor (Aryan's parents) to feel the intense pain and sorrow of losing their own beloved daughter. Neptuna stole Aryana but she realized that she cannot make Aryana a complete mermaid unless her mother gave her willingly.  An agreement was made between the two then when Aryana turns 14, Neptuna will get her back. Unlike the typical mermaid series, the target audience of Aryana are tweens. Aryana is torn between choosing the sea where she belongs and the surface world of humans where her heart belongs. 

TOP 3 MOST MEMORABLE PINOY MERMAID ON TV
"MUTYA"
(PORTRAYED BY MUTYA ORQUIA / MUTYA)
Mutya is the youngest mermaid in our list and probably the cutest of them all. Unlike the other mermaid series, Mutya was born with her legs attached together which was first mistaken an unknown disability. Unfortunately for Mutya, her grandmother didn't embraced her condition and was horrified by it instead. She hired someone to take the poor Mutya away from her mother. Mutya didn't realized that she is a mermaid until her scales began to developed. Mutya was well accepted by the viewers and constantly getting a high rating compare to its rival shows and due to her superb acting skills, Mutya was nominated for being the best new female tv personality and the best tv child performer in different award bodies. 


TOP 2 MOST MEMORABLE PINOY MERMAID ON TV
"MARINA"
(PORTRAYED BY CLAUDINE BARRETTO / MARINA)
Marina is indeed one of the most memorable mermaids and mos memorable fantaserye in Philippine television history. First of all, Marina is considered as the first ever Fantaserye on TV and also the first mermaid featured in a tv series. Basically, she is the one that started it all.  The series was highly acclaimed and it won several recognition including the Best Drama series of PMPC and Outstanding Drama series by CMMA. In fact due to the high public demand, the series was replayed on TV four years after. This is also the series that gave Claudine Barretto the title of being the Optimum Teleserye Queen. 

THE MOST MEMORABLE PINOY MERMAID ON TV
"DYESEBEL"
(PORTRAYED BY MARIAN RIVERA / DYESEBEL)
Dyesebel is probably the most iconic mermaid ever maid in Philippine history. Prior to Marian Rivera's tv series, the mermaid was already adapted from comics to numerous films and has been portrayed by various artists including Vilma Santos, Alma Moreno, Alice Dixon and Charlene Gonzales. The character was created by the legendary Mars Ravelo way back in the 50s. Interestingly, Dyesebel made her debut on TV through Darna where she is personified by Ara Mina but it was Marian Rivera's portrayals made the character even more memorable. 

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Marinara (image above)is another notable pinoy mermaid played by Rufa Mae Quinto. She also played Amafura in Dyesebel. Now that two mermaid series is about to be released, i'm wondering if they will have the same impact with those mermaids listed above. Anne Curtis is set to play the role of Dyesebel and we'll see if she can manage to surpass the record made by Marian Rivera while Louise Delos Reyes will play two roles in Kambal Serena with her mermaid role known as Alona. Can she make it on our top five soon?

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Sunday, February 23, 2014

TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL DISNEY PRINCESSES

I'm sure most of you grew up watching and loving Disney Films and they never failed to amuse us every time we watch them on screen. Disney Princesses in particular made every women's childhood life more colorful and enchanting. A Disney Princess is basically a media franchise made by The Walt Disney Company that features a line up of fictional female heroines from different Disney films. Currently, the franchise has eleven members including Snow White, Aurora, Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel and Merida. Right now, there are 53 featured films by Disney and we cannot deny the fact that some of the characters from some movies were somehow dissed by the Disney Princess franchise. Listed below are five unofficial Disney princesses. Don't you think these ladies deserved a much better credit?
TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL DISNEY PRINCESSES
Author's Note : This entry is listed subjectively.

TOP 5 UNOFFICIAL DISNEY PRINCESS
"VANELLOPE VON SCHWEETZ"
(WRECK-IT RALPH)
Nope, she is more than just a center character from a video game but Vanellope (a nine year old  deuteragonist character from Wreck-it Ralph) is technically a princess. The King Candy erased the memory of her royal past and merely vanish her from the Sugar Rush.  She might not possess those ideal girly characteristics that most Disney Princesses have but Vanellope is characterized as a loving and caring girl despite of her energetic and tomboyish attitude. She is determined and strong-willed like Princess Merida too. She declined to be referred to as a "princess", due to developing a tomboyish attitude, opting instead to be called a president "for democracy's sake." 

TOP 4 UNOFFICIAL DISNEY PRINCESS
"PRINCESS EILONWY"
(THE BLACK CAULDRON)
The Black Cauldron is probably one of the almost forgotten Disney films and it is not really surprising why Princess Eilonwy failed to achieved the popularity made by other Disney Princesses. Far from being just another stereotypical damsel-in-distress princess, who needs the hero to save her, she is hot-tempered, stubborn and resolute. Although having been trained as a sorceress and not a warrior, she is quite capable of using various kinds of weapons, particularly the sword, bow and spear. Even when unarmed, she will fight like a wildcat until incapacitated. She is indeed a Princess , however, she is not considered to be a part of the franchise due to the film's box office failure. Poor princess...

TOP 3 UNOFFICIAL DISNEY PRINCESS
"KIDA NEDAKH"
(ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE)
Kida is the princess of Atlantis but later become their queen. As a princess, she wears only a simple blue bikini which is not really typical for characters marketed as Disney Princesses. She is also a warrior princess, making her strong and very skilled at combat. She is shown to love her father, and later Milo, very much. Although she can seem quite forceful, violent, and aggressive at times, she has a kind heart, and a general respect for all creatures. Although a definite princess by birth, Kida is not included in the Disney Princess franchise because her film did not do well in the box office. Well, we should blame it to Shrek and Tomb Raider for making this  film so unsuccessful in the box office during that time ^_^. 

TOP 2 UNOFFICIAL DISNEY PRINCESS
"MELODY "
(LITTLE MERMAID 2)
She is better known as the daughter of Ariel (The Littler Mermaid) and Prince Eric. So technically Ariel has become the queen and that makes Melody a definite Princess by birth but it seems like she doesn't have the charisma that her mother has. Melody is the first Disney character to be the offspring of a Disney Princess but despite of being a princess by birth, she isn't included as an official Disney Princess in the franchise, possibly because of her young age and status as a heroine of a direct-to-video film. In addition to that, the film is considered as a box office failure too. Anyway, at least her mother made it to the franchise right? 

TOP 1 UNOFFICIAL DISNEY PRINCESS
"PRINCESS GISELLE"
(ENCHANTED)
Okay so technically it should be Nancy (the character portrayed by Idina Menzel and is married to Prince Edward) but as far as the popularity is concerned, I guess Giselle deserves the title more. Giselle is a young woman from the kingdom of Andalasia. Even though she never was a princess during the movie, Narissa called her one during the climax when she confronts her at the top of the building. Interestingly Giselle was very close to become an “official” Disney Princess after a massive success of the film. However, Disney decided to not market Giselle as an official Disney Princess because it would have to pay royalties to actress Amy Adams for using her likeness. If ever, Giselle would have been the first official Disney Princess to come from a film that is not part of the Disney Animation Canon. She would've also been the first Disney Princess (since Ariel) to have a female antagonist in their film. 

Oh by way, Queen Elsa and Princess Anna from Frozen, even though not yet inaugurated, were confirmed to become the twelfth and thirteenth official Disney Princesses respectively. 

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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

TOP FIVE MOST COMMONLY USED CARTOON PHYSICS

Cartoon Physics is basically a jocular system of laws of physics that supersedes normal laws that are commonly applied for animation for humorous effect. In a much simpler explanation, these are the things or scenarios that we commonly see in most cartoons that are not possible to happen in real life. Most of these are done in exaggerated and unimaginable ways. Listed below are five of the most commonly used Cartoon Physics by our beloved cartoon characters. This is generally a revised post from my 2009 entry. Have fun!
TOP FIVE MOST COMMONLY USED CARTOON PHYSICS
Author's Note : This entry is listed subjectively. 

TOP 5 MOST COMMONLY USED CARTOON PHYSICS
"CARTOON'S STRONGEST SPECIES"
In Cartoons, Music usually tames bigger beast but if the music fails, then you might want to arm yourself  with a mouse or the tiniest creature as possible because it seems like toon mice and other small creatures are the toughest and smartest of their species. They usually possess unimaginable strength despite of their small size. Cartoons also run or jump in a very exaggerated way. When running, you can barely see the movements of their feet other than a circular motion to indicate that they are in a hurry. 

TOP 4 MOST COMMONLY USED CARTOON PHYSICS
"CRASHING THROUGH WALLS"
So you are in a hurry and you like to run away? Well, Cartoons have one quick way to do that. They do not bother crashing through walls without showing any signs that they get hurt at all. What makes it more interesting is that they will leave a trail or a hole in the wall that shapes like them. It will capture the exact details including the fingers and ears. This also applies when they fall down from such great height. Once they landed on the ground, a hole will be dug that is shaped and patterned based on their last position or gesture. 

TOP 3 MOST COMMONLY USED CARTOON PHYSICS
"QUICK METABOLISM"
Eaten too much? Well in cartoons, you do not have to worry about extra calories and you can eat as many as you want because their metabolism are extremely fast and they can get back into their normal shape instantly without the need of working out. Their stomach can grow bigger than their size or as round as a watermelon. They can store foods more than any typical human can do. Aside from that, they can swallow big chunks without being chocked or without the need of chewing them. Oh by the way, since we are talking about their physical features, have you noticed that all cartoon characters will only have four fingers in each hand? Well, that's the normal toon digit for digits. 

TOP 2 MOST COMMONLY USED CARTOON PHYSICS
"GUNS AND EXPLOSIVES ARE FRIENDLY WEAPONS"
Oh no! A Gun shot!! Well, in cartoons, you don't have to worry that much because any guns or explosives will just make them black , smokey and sooty. In Cartoons, any explosive weapons cannot cause any fatal injuries and you don't need to cover your eyes at all because even it is technically brutal and cruel, cartoons will deliver it in a very friendly way to make it suitable for younger audiences. I also like to note that once the cartoon character get's dizzy, don't be surprised to see stars or birds flying around their head. 

THE MOST COMMONLY USED CARTOON PHYSICS
"THE LAW OF GRAVITY"

Well, probably the most common scenario that we can find in most cartoons. Any body suspended in space will remain in space until they are made aware of the situation. Wile E Cayote is a good example of cartoon character who always get himself in such situation. So when you run off a cliff, make sure to keep running and remember not to look down unless your feet are touching the ground on the other side. It is also interesting to note that in any cartoons it seems like everything falls faster than an anvil. 

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Sunday, February 16, 2014

TOP FIVE WORLD'S MOST AMAZING BRIDGES

Bridges are meant to provide passages, connecting one place to another in order to overcome physical obstacles like water valley or road. Generally, it is an impressive piece of architecture indeed but apart from being a basic structure, some of them becomes a tourist attraction due to their unique designs and one of a kind appearance. Listed below are five of the most amazing bridges in the world. Have fun! (This is a revised list from my 2009 entry).
TOP FIVE WORLD'S MOST AMAZING BRIDGES
Author's Note : This Entry is listed subjectively. It covers bridges from any category (road, continuous, rail and more)

TOP 5 WORLD'S MOST AMAZING BRIDGE
"HANDERSON WAVES"
(SINGAPORE)
Handerson Waves is one of the major attractions found in the Southern Ridges in Singapore. At a height of 36 metres or 12 storeys from the road, it is considered to be the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. It connects Mount Faber Park and Telok Blangah Hill Park. The bridge has a wave-form made up of seven undulating curved steel ribs that alternately rise over and under its deck. The curved ribs form alcoves that function as shelters with seats within. Slats of yellow balau wood, an all-weather timber found in Southeast Asia, are used in the decking. The wave-forms are lit with LED lamps at night from 7pm to 2am daily. It is considered as one of the most beautiful pedestrian bridges. 

TOP 4 WORLD'S MOST AMAZING BRIDGE
"BANPO BRIDGE"
(SOUTH KOREA)
Banpo is a major bridge in downtown Seoul over the Han River, South Korea, connecting the Seocho and Yongsan districts. The bridge is on top of Jamsu Bridge, forming the upper half of a double-deck bridge; it is the first double deck bridge built in South Korea. On September 9, 2008, the Bridge got a major facelift and 10,000-nozzle fountain that runs all the way on both sides were installed which is later called the Moonlight Fountain which holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's longest bridge fountain. Immediately after being installed, the bridge turned into a major tourist attraction, as the bridge pumps out 190 tons of water per minute using the water from the river below. 

TOP 3 WORLD'S MOST AMAZING BRIDGE
"NANPU BRIDGE"
(CHINA)
Nope, this is not a Hot Wheels Track. The Nanpu Bridge across Huangpu river is one of the main bridges in Shanghai, China, and the first cable stayed bridge with a span of over 400 meter in the country. One of the attractive characteristics of the bridge is the circular design that is implemented in order to reduce the gradient of the approach to the bridge. When viewed across the entire span, the Nanpu Bridge, with a total length of 8,346 meter, looks like a dragon lying across the Huangpu River, with its head and tail in a spiral shape linking the old city area of Puxi with Pudong Developing Zone. Cool isn't (photo credits to http://www.paulreiffer.com/2014/01/somewhere-over-the-rainbow-shanghais-nanpu-bridge/)

TOP 2 WORLD'S MOST AMAZING BRIDGE
"DANYANG-KUNSHAN GRAND BRIDGE"
(CHINA)
The Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge is the world's longest bridge. It is a 164.8-kilometre (102.4 mi) long viaduct on the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway. Another part of that train line, the 70.8-mile (114-km) long Langfang–Qingxian viaduct, is the second longest bridge in the world. It was completed in 2010 and opened in 2011. Employing 10,000 people, construction took four years and cost about $8.5 billion. Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge currently holds the Guinness World Record for the longest bridge in the world in any category as of June 2011.

THE WORLD'S MOST AMAZING BRIDGE
"MILLAU BRIDGE"
(FRANCE)
Millau Bridge or Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France. Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest bridge in the world with one mast's summit at 343.0 metres (1,125 ft) above the base of the structure. It is the 12th highest bridge deck in the world, being 270 metres (890 ft) between the road deck and the ground below. The bridge has been consistently ranked as one of the great engineering achievements of all time. The bridge received the 2006 International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Outstanding Structure Award. While it may provide picturesque views of the valley below, once the mist descends it is not a route for the faint hearted! It is also the world's tallest vehicular bridge.  

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Saturday, February 15, 2014

TOP FIVE MOST INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE MASK

The Mask is considerably one of the best films of 1994. It is critically and commercially successful and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Mask is basically a film adaptation based from a series of comic books created by Dark Horse. It tells a story of a guy named Stanley Ipkiss who finds a mask that turns him into "The Mask", a magically-powered trickster uninhibited by anything, including physical reality. Due to its popularity, The Mask established itself as a cult classic. So in celebration of its 20th Anniversary, listed below are five of the most interesting facts about The Mask.
TOP FIVE MOST INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE MASK
Author's Note : The list in this post was based on some forums but is listed and ranked subjectively. This entry involves facts from both movies and comics.

TOP 5 MOST INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THE MASK
"THE ICONIC BANANA-YELLOW SUIT "
Throughout the movie, The Mask wears many different outfits but the one that marks the most is the yellow suit. It is also the same outfit shown in almost all of the VHS, DVD and Blu-ray Covers. It is also featured in most of its promotional posters. Interestingly, this outfit has never been featured in any of the comics released prior to the movie but what makes it more fascinating is the fact that this Banana-yellow suit is actually based on the suit which Jim Carrey's mother made for him for his first attempt at Stand up comedy. 

TOP 4 MOST INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THE MASK
"THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MASK OF LOKI "
In the movie, it is said that the mask was created by the God of mischief ~ Loki. The describe Loki as a night god which matches the Mask perfectly as it only works at night and stops with the dawning of the sun. However, the mythical story behind its creation appears to be open to interpretation resulting to an on going debate on how and when Loki created such mask. But as far as the real Norse Mythology is concerned, the Mask of Loki never existed.  First of all, the only god in Norse mythology possessing a mask was Odin but doesn't posses such power either. Secondly, The Mask's ability is way far different from Loki's special skills. Nothing in the mythology describes Loki as being able to pull objects from nowhere, nor the ability to warp reality to his will . 

TOP 3 MOST INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THE MASK
"THE FIRST EVER MOVIE APPEARANCE OF CAMERON DIAZ"
Cameron Diaz played the role of Tina Caryle the girlfriend of mobster Dorian Tyrell who is largely dissatisfied with Dorian as a partner. And yes, this film marks as Cameron Diaz' film debut. There are some rumors stating that this role was initially offered to Anna Nicole Smith. Another interesting facts about this is that Diaz had to audition 12 times for the part of Tina, only landing the role 7 days before shooting began. This made Cameron Diaz from completely unknown girl with no big profile under her belt to an A list Hollywood star. Well, good thing she was chosen for this role, otherwise, we might be seeing her in films like "There's Something About Mary", "My Bestfriend's Wedding" and more. 

TOP 2 MOST INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THE MASK
"THE LAST WEARER OF THE MASK"
Believe it or not, but the last one to wear the Mask of Loki is no other than DCs most iconic villain ~ The Joker. Technically, Joker/Mask is the last comic series in relation with The Mask. It is basically a four issue crossover between the Mask and Batman. Joker found the Mask in the Gotham City Museum and wears it unintentionally.With its power the Joker begins to feel a new rejuvenation in his career of crime. Batman is able to trick the Joker into removing the Mask by claiming that the villain is no longer funny, and is relying on tired schtick and the power of the Mask instead of his own style. The series concluded showing Lt Kellaway retrieving the Mask from Batman and placing it on Stanley Ipkiss's grave , burrying it with Stan's corpse. 

THE MOST INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THE MASK
"THE REAL GENRE OF THE MASK"
Technically, The Mask film is categorized as a superhero fantasy action comedy but did you know that the film is originally intended as a dark and hard horror film? Yes, because this is actually the real behavior of the real Mask based on how he is depicted on the comics. In fact, did you know how Stanley Ipkiss died? In the comic series, Stanley Ipkiss died when his girlfriend shot him in the back after she deduced who Big Head (aka The Mask) was and tracked him down. (what a brutal way of death right?). On top of that, The Mask is really involved in numerous murderous crime but this is not even applied for the film (except for the film's unrelevant sequel ~ Son of the Mask). It is also interesting to note that due to the film's great success, the succeeding comic series in relevant with the Mask were somehow toned down in terms of violence.

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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

TOP FIVE MOST POPULAR SWORDS IN ANIME

In the universe of Anime, in order to survive, you have to be strong and you need tremendous power and abilities to knock down all your enemies. Of course we also have to consider skillful companions too. We have seen a lot of warriors and heroes with special and unique skills. Some of them uses magic spells while others are armed with great weapons. Some of them can wield sword exceptionally. Listed below are five of the most notable swords in Anime which became so popular among Otakus. Have fun!
TOP FIVE MOST POPULAR SWORDS IN ANIME
Author's note: This entry is listed subjectively. We are also referring to the Sword's popularity and not the strength or anything about the wielder. 

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR SWORD IN ANIME
"WADO ICHIMONJI, SANDAI KITETSU AND SHUSUI"
(Wield by Roronoa Zoro of One Piece)
Unarguably, Roronoa Zoro is one of the most powerful and skillful fighters and is notable for wielding three swords at a time but what makes it more interesting is the fact that each sword has their own story. Wado Ichimonji is one of the so called Great Grade Sword in One Piece universe and is formerly owned by his late childhood friend Kuina. Wado Ichimonji is a powerful blade when used by a competent swordsman and is normally placed in Zoro's mouth while performing his Santoryu skill. Sandai Kitetsu, on the other hand is created by a famous blacksmith Kitesu. This one however is said to be cursed and is said to bring horrible death to all of its owner while Shusui is another one of the 21 Great Grade Swords and is formerly wielded by a famous samurai Ryuma. 

TOP 4 MOST POPULAR SWORD IN ANIME
"TESSAIGA"
(Wield by InuYasha of InuYasha)
Tessaiga is a sword wield by InuYasha. It is an opposite sword of his brother Sesshomaru's inherited katana which is known as Tensaiga. Tessaiga is known as the "Sword of Destruction" while Tensaiga is the "Sword of Life". Interestingly, Tessaiga is a sword that has a mind of its own it has been seen guiding Inuyasha in his journey. The sword is created from a fang of a powerful demon and when wielded properly, it transformed into a weapon roughly the size of a car bumper that somewhat resembles a falchion. The Tessaiga had the power to slay 100 demons in one swing by striking the Kaze no Kizu, it also had the ability to absorb the technique or skill of a strong yōkai that was defeated with the sword. The Tessaiga can absorb the powers and abilities of any material, substance, or form of energy it comes in contact with, making itself more powerful. 

TOP 3 MOST POPULAR SWORD IN ANIME
"ZANGETSU/ ZANPAKUTO"
(Wield by Ichigo Kurosaki of Bleach)
If I am going to list down all the popular swords in Anime, most of the Zanpakutos of Bleach will definitely take all our top spot but I decided to take one the most popular swords from this anime to give way for other animes in our list. Of course, Ichigo's Zangetsu will top our list. Ichigo's sword transformed several times in the series either in Shikai or Bankai form. The Shikai form of Zangetsu resembles an oversized khyber knife instead of a formal katana. It has no tsuba and no proper hilt; what Ichigo holds is the cloth-wrapped tang (it is actually the most notable form of his sword). The appearance of his Shikai changed after the influence of Fullbring. The bankai form of Zangetsu on the other hand will shrink in size and the blade becomes black. Just like the Shikai, his Bankai eventually changed its appearance too. 

TOP 2 MOST POPULAR SWORD IN ANIME
"LIGHTNING SWORD / TENKUKEN"
(Wield by Voltes V of Voltes V
Upon checking some forums, I found out that TenKuKen is often disregarded or forgotten but I think this one truly deserves a great spot in our list considering that it is used by one of the most iconic Mecha series in Anime. Voltes V's arsenal consists of variety of missiles, a bazooka, beams, and weapons such as Chōdenji Top but Ten-ku-ken is considered the deadliest one. Tan-ku-ken is a gigantic sword stored on the chest of Voltes V. It summons lightning to make itself more powerful. With Tenkūken, Voltes V marks the enemy's final moments with a signature "V" slash. This established it as one of the first super robots to use a sword in its finishing attack.  

THE MOST POPULAR SWORD IN ANIME
"REVERSED BLADE KATANA"
(Wield by Himura Kenshin or Samurai X) 
Better known in manga and Anime as Sakabato . is the last of the strange swords forged by master swordsmith Arai Shakkū. However, unlike all his previous known works, whose designs all contain elements that make them tools not of combat, but of gruesome death, the Sakabatō is designed as a simple katana with its blade forged on the opposite side than normal, making it a sword ill-fit for killing. Most of the Sakabato swords are wielded by Himura Kenshin  most notably the Kageuchi and shinuchi but it is very interesting to note that all of these swords are visually identical. Kenshin used this sword flawlessly with his Battojutsu which earned him the title as Battosai. 
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Other Notable Swords in Anime includes all other Zanpakuto of Bleach, Exculibur of Fate/Stay Nite (Image above), Zanbato of Sanosuke, Nietono no Shana of Shana, Spirit Sword of Kuwabara, Some swords from Flame of Recca including the Ensui, and more.
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

TOP FIVE MOST SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL MOBILE GAME APPS

I'm sure you have heard about the recent mobile game app that became a big hit among users but suddenly turned down by the game creator himself. Oh well, it is not really new to us to see a game that surprisingly become successful due to its highly addictive game play. For the past years, we have embraced some mobile game apps which ruined changed our daily life routine. These games made our fingers very itchy as if we can't live a day without touching our mobile devices and spend time just to play these applications. Listed below are five of the most surprisingly successful mobile game app.
TOP FIVE MOST SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL MOBILE GAME APPS
 photo Minion-Rush_zps66a02dbf.jpg
Author's Note: This entry is listed subjectively. 

TOP 5 MOST SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL MOBILE GAME APP
"TEMPLE RUN"
Temple Run is a game developed and published by Imangi Studios. Well, it is basically an endless running game in which your main objective is to run as far as you can while avoiding all the obstacles that you will encounter along your way. You are taking a role of an explorer who have stolen an idol from a temple and is being chased by demonic monkeys. The game is highly embraced by critics and users and in fact, Imangi Studio has become more popular than Zynga (creators or Poker  and other casual games like Farmville). Due to its popularity, Disney had teamed up with the Imangi to promote Brave (2012) and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) (resulting to games like Temple Run : Brave and Temple Run : Oz respectively). A lot of games adapted the style of temple run including Temple Guns, Pyramid Run, and even the Subway Surfer. 

TOP 4 MOST SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL MOBILE GAME APP
"FLAPPY BIRD"
 photo flappy_bird_zps4507574f.jpg
Yes, the most controversial mobile app today. Flappy Bird is one surprisingly successful mobile app developed by one of the most controversial game developer today ~ Dong Nguyen. The game is relatively new and is also notable for its very simple game play. It is a side scrolling and retro-inspired game that allows you to control a flying bird and your main objective is prevent it from touching any of the pipes along its way. The impact of the game is truly overwhelming and has become one of the most downloaded mobile app in both Android and iOs Charts. The Flappy Bird is supposedly a possible contender to Candy Crush and is touted as the next Angry Birds until Nguyen removed it from the app store for some unclear reasons. Due to its popularity, a lot of games with similar concept and gameplay were released.

TOP 3 MOST SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL MOBILE GAME APP
"PLANTS VS ZOMBIES"
A group of adorable plants against a horde of brain eating zombies? Who would have thought that this game will keep gamers awake at night just to finish the entire level? Unlike the rest of the games in this list, Plants Vs Zombies is initially released by PopCap games for Microsoft Windows but the iOs version was released a year after. It is very interesting to note that PvZ is a multi awarded game and has positively received by critics praising the game for its very unique and addictive concept. The game actually sold 300,000 copies for its first nine days on AppStore which made it the fastest selling video game created by PopCap and the Top grossing iPhone launch. Due to its popularity, the game has been adapted into several media franchises and has been parodied by many. 

TOP 2 MOST SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL MOBILE GAME APP
"CANDY CRUSH SAGA"
Here comes another game that brought you a lot of sleepless nights. Probably the most successful game today. Candy Crush Saga is a game created by King and  is a very simple match 3 puzzle game that works the same way with Bejeweled. The simplicity of the game made it very addictive and fun. The impact is very overwhelming, making Candy Crush Saga the second most downloaded Mobile game of all time. It has become one of the most played Games on Facebook surpassing another popular game from Zynga which is FarmVille 2. So far, the game has been installed 500 million times across Facebook, iOS and Android devices. Just like the rest of the games listed in this category, several mobile games were released that are patterned to Candy Crush Saga. 

THE MOST SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL MOBILE GAME APP
"ANGRY BIRDS"
Rovio Entertainment proved to us that a highly successful game doesn't have to be in 3D or with lavishly illustrated details and and what we need are group of wingless birds who are in rage to get their stolen eggs from the group of pigs. Angry Birds has been praised for its successful combination of addictive gameplay, comical style, and low price. If Candy Crush had 500 Million downloads, Angry Birds is way too far from such figure amounting to a very surprising 2 billion downloads, making it the highest downloaded mobile game of all time and the largest mobile app success that we have seen so far. Due to its popularity, the game has produced different installments (seasonal and promotional versions) and has been adapted to other franchise including an animated series and a full length film to be released in 2016. 

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Other notable Mobile Game app that are deserving to mentioned includes Minion Rush, Draw Something, Fruit Ninja, Smurf's Village, and more
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Saturday, February 8, 2014

TOP FIVE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING DEAD SEASON 4 MIDSEASON

The highly anticipated series of AMC is about to return for the last eight episodes. We are half way done indeed yet there are still many questions to be answered. The first half gave us a bunch of cliffhangers and I'm sure most fans are craving to see what's gonna happen next. After facing danger due to an unknown epidemic disease which killed many of the Woodburry survivors and after the epic battle between the Governor's team and those in the Prison, it seems like the group is facing another danger since the Prison loses its defenses and is now overrun by walkers. Listed below are five things that we are looking forward this midseason.
TOP FIVE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING DEAD SEASON 4 MIDSEASON
Author's note : This entry is listed subjectively. 

TOP 5 THING WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING DEAD SEASON 4 MIDSEASON
"THE NEXT HERSHEL"
We already knew on the first place that there is a big possibility for Hershel's character to die but we are not expecting that he will die in a very brutal way. Hershel's death is indeed one of the most tragic events that occurred in this season and this will surely leave a big impact to the rest of the remaining survivors. Losing the group's wisdom guy will definitely change everything and we are wondering who will be the next Hershel this season. As you see, there is always a wisdom guy in the group because after Dale was killed by the Walker, Hershel replaced him and now that he's gone, who do you think will take his place. Some rumors say that Beth is turning to be like his father and I guess that is something to look forward to. 

TOP 4 THING WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING DEAD SEASON 4 MIDSEASON
"THE NEXT GOVERNOR"
Losing Hershel is truly heartbreaking but good thing we also lose the bad guy and yeah, that's the Governor. We've seen him at his worsts and finally it's over. Governor is probably the most iconic antagonist we have seen so far aside from the overwhelming and seemingly interminable amount of walkers. He is brutal and merciless and the one behind Hershel's death and the reason why Andrea gets killed. Oh well, he ended his role in a very extravagant way. He got killed by Michonne after stabbing him with her Katana and he was also killed by Lily even more. And now that he's gone, we're wondering who will follow his trails. 

TOP 3 THING WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING DEAD SEASON 4 MIDSEASON
"THE RETURN OF CAROL"
One of the most unexpected scene in the series is when Carol revealed that she is the one behind Karen and David's death. She killed them both and burn them, hoping to stop them from spreading the disease. Rick, on the other hand, decided to exile her from the prison because he knew for the fact that Tyreese is not yet ready to accept the truth behind Karen's death. He also realized that Carol is no longer the same woman she met in Atlanta (Carol by the way is the only remaining female survivor from the original Atlanta survivors). After she was left, nothing was heard from her and that makes us wonder when will she return and what kind of Carol are we looking forward to. 

TOP 2 THING WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING DEAD SEASON 4 MIDSEASON
"THE FATE OF BABY JUDITH"
In a place overrun by walkers, nothing can be more terrifying than seeing a fightless and weak baby suffers from such horrible death. Oh wait, we can't just jump on that conclusion yet because even if we saw a blood stain on Baby Judith's carrier, it doesn't mean she died. One of the things that we are looking forward this season is to see the fate of baby Judith. Is it a tragic death or Judith was rescued by one of the remaining survivors from the prison. Well, that is something we want to know. 

TOP BEST THING WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING DEAD SEASON 4 MIDSEASON
"THE NEXT PLACE AFTER PRISON"
In Season 1, the series will focus on Atlanta and nearby areas. In Season 2, the series focused more on Hershel's Farm and in Season 3, the group found a new place in the Prison and now that the Prison is completely useless and defenseless, we're wondering what is the next location to be featured. Alexandria is another safe zone mentioned in the comics but we cannot tell yet if the group will be heading this way. Some rumors are telling us that the series will have a crossover with the video game which takes us to Macon. Oh well, I am so thrilled to find out.
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Other things that we are looking forward as well includes the appearance of other notable characters from the comics including Abraham, The Hunters and more. We also want to find out who is feeding the zombies during their stay in the prison and what's next for Michonne after she killed the governor and why did she cried after carrying Baby Judith in one of the episodes. 


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Thursday, February 6, 2014

TOP FIVE BEST THINGS TO DO AFTER RETIREMENT

They said that it is always good to plan things ahead. Preparation plays a vital role to prevent failures or possible regrets especially if you have made wrong decisions. Same thing goes when you decided to retire. Your life doesn't stop after your retirement and in fact there are so many things you can do to keep yourself busy and most of them will actually make your life more colorful. Some people tend to feel so depressed once they have reached their retirement without knowing that this is a chapter of their life that they can do almost anything to make their life more meaningful. Listed below are five things you can do after your retirement.

TOP FIVE BEST THINGS TO DO AFTER RETIREMENT
5. Read and Write - It is always wonderful to spend more time in reading more books and explore different ideas and it is even more enjoying if you motivate yourself to write either an autobiography , daily journal or any form of literature like novel or short story. Reading and writing is actually a good way to stimulate you mentally which is effective to prevent yourself from getting possible Alzheimer or Dementia. On top of that, it is also a good way to pamper yourself and to keep you away from so much stress.

4. Get A Hobby - During your life before retirement, you keep yourself busy with work and ignoring those wonderful things in life simply because you have no time for them. After your retirement, you can almost do anything and you can have all your time without worrying much about work-related matters. It is a perfect opportunity to get yourself a hobby. Gardening and Landscaping is probably on of the most effective way to keep yourself away from being bored. All you need is a huge outdoor to start a garden of your own. You can keep yourself busy by trimming plants, make elegant topiary and more. You probably want to have Gubba Garden Sheds to store all your gardening materials and keep them in good shape. In addition to that, you can also get other hobbies like bird watching, quilting, painting, woodworking and more.


3. Join Recreational Activities or Get into Sports - If there is one thing that can definitely keep yourself busy, then it is most likely the sports or other recreational activities. There are sports that are exclusively for older people like golf in particular. Other recreational activities you might consider being a part of are some voluntary charitable missions or joining some special groups of your age.

2. Travel - You are already retired and you are done with those heavy duty workloads and more and therefore, it is time for you to treat yourself. Traveling is definitely a great thing to consider. This is not just an overnight travel but a long term vacation and this is also the reason why most of them used to rent or avail their own Smart Motor Homes. There are some recreational vehicles to use who are good for camping and outdoor activities. They are usually filled with complete living amenities inside but of course, you have to pick the vehicle that can accommodate all your things or your companions if any. I personally like those Cuddle Buddies Bean Bags due to their multiple function because they can be used as pillows, comfy chairs and they are not space consuming too (ideal for those motor homes indeed). If you have big budget, then you might consider booking a flight to some luxurious travel destinations.

1. Spend more time with Family - You are not getting any younger indeed and we have to accept the fact that you have spent more time in working rather than spending quality time with your family. After the retirement, this is a very good time to spend more time either with your kids or with your grandchildren. It is the best way to keep you away from depression and stress.

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