Movie Review: Prometheus

The reason why I like going to the cinema 30 minutes before the showing time is for me to get a glimpse of future films to watch.  Prometheus was one such film that got my attention.  My interest in the film superseded my liking for Snow White and the Huntsman that it was the obvious choice given both movies are still showing right now.  Obviously I'm more a sci-fi fan than that of fantasy.

I have not read any movie synopsis for Prometheus prior to watching it but the use of an android as a science officer was reminiscent of Ash and Bishop in Aliens 1 and 2.   And then there were the facehugger and the chestburster aliens.   What is this film really about?  The final piece of the puzzle was put in place when the alien antagonist shown in the last part of the film looked like Ridley Scott's Alien.  True enough the film is meant to be a prequel to the Aliens series.

The story aims to explain the mythology of the alien species that has terrified movie goers for the past three decades.  Apparently, the alien being who created man had a change of heart about the human race and decided to eradicate their creation with their own version of "weapon of mass destruction".  The moon which they thought to be the home of man's creators turned out to be the production site of the specie that will exterminate the human race. Before there was Ripley, there was Elizabeth Shaw to save the human race from alien destruction.

My Ten Commandments of Leadership

To be in a position of LEADERSHIP is a serious matter.  Those who wish to lead should be well equipped with a balance of business sense and people skills.  Tipping the scale either way could make or break a department, a company, and even a country.  

A bad leadership breeds dissent and organizational breakdown.  We don't want that, right?

The best leaders are those who know what it is to follow.  So allow me to share with you my 10 Commandments for a Good Leadership based on my 23 years of being a follower:

1.  Be a good example. This is mainly based on values.  The values that you hold dear is reflective of how you do things.

2.  Know where you're going.  The question is, "How can you LEAD if you don't know where you want to go?"  Be wary of the leader who don't have a sense of direction.

4.  Be clear in your directions.  Knowing where you want to go does not guarantee that you'll be able to get your team to get there.  Communicating your goals to others and how you need them to do it is as important as having  the vision of your goal.

5.  Define your people's deliverables.  Quality should always be the top of mind. Your people should know what is expected of them.  They should know the rewards of exemplary work and the penalty for a lackluster one. 

6.  Give credit where credit is due.  As Maya Angelou would say, "People  will  forget what you did, they will forget what you said, but people will never forget how you made them feel."  A leader must have the power to build morale.  Stroking the ego of a subordinate for a job well done is an effective tool in morale building and in the process strengthens confidence which in turn spurs autonomy.   Leaders should not baby sitters.  Leaders build effective teams and organizations.

7.  Be accountable.  The buck stops with you.  If your people fail, you fail.  Never forget that.

8.  Be a teacher and mentor.  The greatest legacy of a leader is being able to mold future leaders.  A leader is not threatened to mentor a secondary to ensure business continuity and relishes in the notion that even without his presence those whom he leaves behind is competent to keep the business going.

9.  Always look for better ways of doing things.  Like the parable of the talents a leader must have something to show for at the end of his term.  To leave the position and hand over the very same organization when you took over is an affront to the company that hired you and a total waste of investment.

10.  Have a lot of patience.  It is hard to be a leader.  Dealing with different kinds of people, knowing their idiosyncrasies,  strengths and limitations require a chameleon-like quality of adapting.  Trust and respect are not automatic privileges of the position.  It is earned through time and a whole lot of relationship building. 

Funny is the New Handsome

I've always believed that how you make people feel makes for a lasting impression.  Naturally, making a woman happy makes for better companionship, ergo, the man with the sense of humor wins the girl.

Many women have learned from the experience that handsome men are more likely to flirt around or in some instances---turn out to be GAY(bato-bato sa langit!).   

Women are more emotional and happiness is something that they always long for.  There is always this craving to be cuddled, courted, made special, and humored.  I tell you, there's no other sound than a woman's hearty laugh!  

A romantic guy with a sense of humor is now the new handsome. So pretty boys beware---you don't own the block no more!   

Date Night @ Hooters MOA

The main purpose why my wife and I went to SM Mall of Asia was to take part in the Hot Summer Nights Car Show at the Bay Walk.  Unfortunately, the weather was bad and dampened the normally eye catching scenery of the event.  It's a good thing that Hooters was nearby and me and the wife got ourselves an early dinner of Boneless Spicy Wings, Hooters Cobb Salad, Cheese Nachos, and bottomless ice teas to put them down.  My camera on the other hand found satisfaction with the beautiful Hooters babes abound!

Special thanks to Jane and Jewel for entertaining our needs!

Hot Summer Nights Car Show 2012 - SM Mall of Asia

It was a case of "to go or not to go" given the bad weather that has been going on the past few days.  But the calling to take part in the Hot Summer Nights Car Show was too strong to pass up rain or shine!  So off I went with my wife to the SM Mall of Asia Bay Walk in the hope of getting me some pictures of the cars and the gals.  

We arrived a little pass 6pm and it was drizzling and with the wind blowing storm strength it was useless to use an umbrella.  The venue was compact and it was hard to navigate through the crowd.  A strong smell of testosterone permeated the air overpowering the smell of the sea.  The cars were drenched from the rain but tents housed the gals from the elements except from the throng of men who gathered around them like bees in a honeycomb!  The tent rendered my retractable LCD display useless as it neutralized my camera's capability to make an overhead shot.  Deym!  With the more prominent babes walled up, I didn't get any shot.  Good thing that my new favorite model was there to satisfy my itching trigger finger.  Unfortunately, I was ready to get long shots and got my 55-200mm lens on and unable to change lens with no shade to do it in.  Good thing my good old Nokia N8 saved the day and got myself some pictures (although not the crisp and clear images that I want but still...).

  

My wife and I then went for an early dinner at Hooters (details on a separate blog) to while the time before the 10pm HSN Bikini Show.

It seems that the weather was also keen on watching the parade of bikini clad women and the night was drizzle-free for the duration of the show.  However, the organizers were not confident that the weather will hold since the show short of the usual pomp and circumstance like they had last year.  Missing was the pre-show entertainment and the show itself was done in haste as the models strutted and exited as if in a hurry to go to another event.

The cramped venue immediately filled the stage area and lost my usual perch at the front of the side stage.  I was four rows behind but the vantage point seemed to have a high potential for taking quality shots---that is, until the official photographer blocked my view from the stage and I was left only open shots of his back side!  Double DEYM!  Over head shot was also not feasible with all those in front of me were also doing the same and I was way behind!  I shifted to capture the event via video from my N8 but that too was difficult to do!  

The decision to brave the weather would have been all for naught if not for the great time we had a Hooters!

Anyway, sharing with you the pictures and the video of the event.

Video Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYno48vTPOo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWliQvz1loY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdd1c_zmB-A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTq-BtAUw_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZvPUDEDrnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5RkzGdZ-To
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-shwq7BF0mc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75H268qgpNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y3-kSMZH6A

My Jeepney Moment

I have been riding the jeepney for most of my life and I have been bugged by one question:  "What is the basis of measuring the capacity of a jeepney?"

I'm a big guy and being so I take up a huge part of the sitting space.  If I sit up front---no one else would be comfortable sitting beside me, that is, unless it is his trip to have half his body dangling outside of the jeepney!  Jeepnies picking up passengers at a terminal will not leave unless they are filled up.  This is where you hear barkers saying "waluhan" or "sampuan".  Where the heck did they get these numbers?!  I understand the need to earn a living but doing so at the discomfort of the riding public is despicable---especially when you loaded up a bunch of oversize people like myself!

No, I don't rant my mind whenever I get confronted with this situation.  I just make sure that I get on early so I wouldn't have to squeeze myself on the last available seat.  After all, those who don't have money---take the jeepney!

Rainy Season is Here

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) the rainy season starts by end of May when the southwest monsoon becomes dominant.  Well, it is already making us feel its presence with our daily dose of rainfall in the afternoon and early evening.

I was on my way home when I missed my regular stop and upon alighting at SM Fairview I was met with a heavy rainfall that forced me to take shelter in a nearby Jollibee store.  I have been here for more than 30 minutes already and the rain has yet to show any signs of letting up.  I guess God got fed up with all the complaint about the hot summer that He decided to douse us with water.  It is cooler alright but it would be a real pain to travel especially that it is now the beginning of the school year.   Other than this---it is going to be a bitch drying the laundry!