4 Tips to get yourself employed

With the current recession happening in America right now, numerous people are losing their jobs as companies try to cut their costs. People are being laid off in the thousands and there are just more people looking for jobs than jobs available. So competition in labor market is cut-throat and you need all your guns to fight this battle. So how do you stand out among the rest? Here are some ideas to help you get that job….

1. Know yourself. You have to know what you can offer a company and the only way you can do that is by analyzing what your skills and specialties are. You have to keep in mind that other applicants most probably have the same skills and more or less the same experience. Therefore, you have to find that one key factor that you have that is solely yours and that the company can benefit from.

2. Know your worth. After analyzing yourself, ask yourself, what am I worth? This is important as you will be able to gauge a range in which you can play with when the company offers you compensation. Knowing what you can offer and comparing it with the needs of the company will give you an idea as to how much you are worth.

3. Present a fantastic resume. Remember your curriculum vitae will give the employer a first impression as to the kind of person you are. A properly organized resume will surely catch the attention of the employer as well as highlight your capabilities before actually seeing you. First impressions count.

4. Own the job. I am not saying for you to behave like an arrogant prick before actually being hired. What I mean is that you have to have that confidence that you are good for the job and that you will get it. Insecurity can be seen by employers during an interview. If you are unsure of yourself, then there is no reason whatsoever for them to be sure of you.

It’s really about selling yourself. The product: you. The client: the employer. Everything is dependent on how you know your product, how it will satisfy the need of the company and how you present yourself. Easier said than done? Own it, you can do it.

4 Best Smiles in Hollywood

I am in smile mode once again. I don’t know there’s just something about a smile that really makes my day. So I’ve decided to give you a list of women who I believe have the best smiles.

Gwyneth Paltrow has a smile that says the world can crumble down everything will be ok. It was one of the most heart-warming smiles I’ve seen in Hollywood. It so warm, that it makes me feel all mushy inside when I see Paltrow smile.

Sarah Jessica’s smile is the kind of smile that just brightens up your day. Sarah Jessica Parker’s smile lights up her own face and that light projects so much into you that you feel so bright and refreshed even in the gloomiest of days.

Julia Roberts has the most infectious smile. You see her smile and you have to smile yourself even if you’re down and out. It’s so big she can smile for the whole world. It is so big it can reach the ends of the universe and make everyone smile. It’s one of those smiles that just make you happy.

Finally, Jessica Alba’s smile is the smile that can launch a thousand ships. Like a painting, you can just look at that smile and never get tired of it. It’s the kind of smile composers write songs about. It is just beautiful.

Mike Huckabee is McCain’s running mate

The Republicans are truly showing far more solidarity than the Democratic Party could ever hope for. While Barrack Obama and Hilary Clinton are having the bickering and cat fights, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has stated that he is willing to be McCain’s running mate for the elections. This for me is the ultimately in party support. Huckabee, after being McCain’s rival is readily willing to support his party member by being his running mate and honestly, the combination is quite good. There’s McCain, a military vet and Huckabee, a Baptist minister. Between the two of them, I bet they can cover values from both ends of the scale.

There is no doubt, however, that Obama is still proving to be a crowd favorite. But honestly, Clinton and Obama are doing a swell job doing negative publicity for the democratic candidates. The democrats are destroying themselves without the Republicans lifting a finger. I think the Democrats should start cleaning up their act, decide who’s running and start backing whoever that is and start campaigning.

Hilary Grabbing straws?

I think it’s time that Hilary Clinton gave way to Barrack Obama. There is no doubt that she is a fine woman but her tactics are getting dirtier and her strategies are getting desperate. To differentiate the “hard working White American” with all other hard working American is just so bad and such a low blow. If she’s trying to appeal to the white vote, she will definitely get some but she will definitely lose a lot more. Whoever advised her to do that advised her poorly. If that is truly her own personal outlook, then she should not be president.

Breakup songs men can relate to

I think it’s about time that people realize that men are also as affected by breakups as women are. That we also go through a grieving stage. Dozens of write-ups have been written about how women can cope up with the loss and soul-wrenching pain. Most would empathize with women and criticize us men for being emotionless or naive or egoistic when it comes to breakups. But it’s not true. We just have a different way to get over it.

And just like women, we, men also tend to drown ourselves in songs to get over and let it out. It’s not the usual easy-listening songs that exactly tackle about pain and loss, but they are a bit off the conventional and they make us feel that we can move on.

1. No woman, no cry by Bob Marley and the Wailers

One can’t help to feel empowered mainly because every song by the great Bob Marley has a message of hope.

2. This love by Pantera

Now, this song can literally take you down on memory lane during its 6-minute duration. This song deals with ovewhelming pain that lead to suicidal tendencies. But leave it to the legendary metal group to make it bearable, especially with the message that if we can’t have the woman of our dreams then nobody can. Kind of scary, but hey, that’s how we are affected by splits, we are driven to fatal thoughts.

3. You were always on my mind by Elvis Presley
One can never questions the king’s ability to make every women at his era drool and to make every men wished that they can look good in those bell-bottom pants. This song practically spells how we feel after the split.

4. Far away by Nickleback
The raspy voice makes the song very listenable and less sappy yet it gets the message across. The plea for another chance is a sign how we want to make it right again, no matter who has the worst fault.

5. Dreaming with a broken heart by John Mayer
Yes, I know John Mayer’s choice of women is one of the reasons why he almost ends up broken hearted. But this song is so simple and laid-back and it truly reflects how we deal with the pain. That the absence of tears is not a sign that we don’t feel anything at all. That the pain is too deep-cut that we’d rather stay asleep for a long time just to not feel the pain.

These are but a few. You may have a listen to it just once. Some listen to a song over and over again until he can’t get it out of their heads. Bottom line here is, both couples are hurting in a breakup and the pain canno be doubted or belittled.

Don’t we need to breathe after a divorce?

My sister has finalized her divorce and because of it we had a family meeting. Now, I belong to a big family that has an equal amount of girls and boys. During this family gathering, the girls of the family start scheming and asking the boys for help to match my sister Nadia (the divorcee) with one of our friends or what have you. During this whole discussion, a movie was mentioned – Must Love Dogs. Out of curiosity I got a video of it and watched it. Definitely it’s not my kind of movie but it does somewhat reminded me of my family and my sisters situation. My family is a watered version of that family.

Now I am not complaining about our closeness but I am totally against the fact that she just got out of a relationship and now my sisters are trying to get her into another one. So I said, breathe and enjoy it…Wow, the violent reactions from the girls was shocking…

This is the thing; she’s single again – not alone. With the size of our family, I do not doubt the fact that we will be able to find means and ways to offset whatever loneliness she may feel. She has friends that she can hang out as well. She has a job that she can focus on. If someone comes along then that’s good but to actively look… I don’t know… My bros are with me with this philosophy… but then again….Nadia breathe, go to the park, and relax before you start hunting again….

Great Party

The party was great. WE reminisced and discussed, even argued about the list I made about the best and the worst movies based on comic books. Then we started on with the best fantasy/sci-fi movies of the 80s when CGI wasn’t the in thing yet.

The conversation was great and the party, as I said, was great. It was good to see everybody and catch up on whatever is happening in our lives.

6 Best Villains in a Movie Adapted from a Comic Book

This is my last installment for the movies adapted from comic books and this time I shall be listing the best villains in movies adapted from comic books. It cannot be doubted that the antagonists in comic books are as significant as the heroes themselves as they help define the character of the hero. They also help in forming the image of milieu of the story.

It is very important therefore for the actor to be able to portray these villains properly. Unlike the heroes that have to have the look and the ability to play the hero as well as the hidden identity, the villain has to be able to project a level of insanity rooted on malice and pure evil.

Here is the list not in any particular order. All actors were able to portray the villains in equal excellence; they are just the best amongst the rest.

Jack Nicholson (Joker/Batman). Jack Nicholson as we all know is a fantastic actor. When they were promoting Batman during the day, I wasn’t so excited to hear that Michael Keaton was playing Batman but was quite anxious to see Jack Nicholson as Joker. Sure enough he did not disappoint me. He was able to show how Joker was before the accident and distinctly contrast this with the insane malevolent Joker that resulted from the accident. The despair, insanity and evil were perfectly portrayed.

Ian Mckellen (Magneto/X-Men). Magneto is not truly a bad man. He just has a superiority complex. A complex brought about by being ostracized. He also believes that might is right. McKellen is able to show this. The audience is able to see that his actions are rooted not because of some inner malevolence but instead is rooted in anger. There are scenes where McKellen is able to shift his facial expression from “evil” (for lack of a better term) into some kindness and compassion which he reserves only for his mutant kind.

Terence Stamp (General Zod/Superman II). Terence Stamp played General Zod in Superman II and for those who may not remember, he was the leader of the 3 criminals that was trapped inside that flat sheet looking mirror that served as Krypton prison. This was a perfect portrayal as Stamp played the character like a very intelligently. He was the villain you just can’t seem to hate. He was a very witty villain which at times was really humorous until you see the streak of ruthlessness. It was a perfect balance.

William Dafoe (Green Goblin, Norman Osborne/Spiderman I). Like Jack Nicholson, Dafoe was able to show the contrast between Norman Osborne and the Green Goblin. What made the performance extraordinary were those dialogues between Norman’s good self and his alter ego which you could see in the mirror. His ability to change his face from evil to generous father was also quite impressive.

Jeff Bridges. (Obadiah Stane/Iron Man). The manner in which Jeff Bridges played Stane was just perfect in the sense that he was able to successfully show that Stane’s motivation was solely greed for money and power. His performance was not over the top and not very comic-like. As a matter of fact, he was able to compliment Robert Downey Jr. natural and true projection of the characters in Iron Man.

Elijah Wood (Kevin/Sin City). This is one of the most perfect comic based villain portrayals in the list. The manner in which Elijah Wood was able to play Kevin, the serial killer, was so accurate to the comic book that it was as if the character in the graphic novel jumped right out of the pages and into the cinematic screen. He had the right look and the proper acting for the role. I have to say, it was divine.

So that’s my list of the best villains ever. I hope you enjoyed this themed week and I would like to thank everyone who commented on my posts.

Let’s Party!!!!

The reunion party is happening this weekend. I didn’t need to hire a party organizer as I just asked Fred’s wife to handle all the preparations. Sure enough it’s going to be held in their house as well. What a relief!!!

With no worries in my mind, I am now excitedly awaiting the party this weekend. It’s going to be a big barbecue thing and a whole lot of people from the past were invited. Some of them are even flying in as we speak. Cool… it’s a good way to catch up with everybody… renew contacts and develop new networks… Can you imagine I was the one who actually prepared this party? I bet it would be voted the lamest barbecue party in the world I’d win any online competition on it. But then again, I may become famous like William Hung… or rather infamous..

Anyway, I can’t wait until this weekend. Lots of reminiscing too… I bet…. And lots of beer… I hope….The only thing I’m afraid of is that it may be too wholesome as Annie’s the one preparing it. But I guess Fred will be putting his own input on things…

I’m not organizing anymore. I should stop fussing… let’s just party!

5 Worst Movies Adapted from Comic Books

So you now know which comic adapted movies I believe to be the best. Now let’s go to the list of movies that I consider the worst and which occupied the time between Superman and Spiderman.

Batman Returns/Batman Forever. (1992, 1995). These two Batman movies had two different actors to portray Bruce Wayne – Michael Keaton for the former and Val Kilmer for the latter. Both actors are good but the manner in which these two movies were made was extremely bad. There can be no doubt that Tim Burton (1992) and Joel Schumacher (1995) used the best special effects for the films – the effects were impeccable. But the storyline pretty much just jammed all these celebrities portraying all these famous villains into one movie. The acting of all characters villain or hero was detestable as well. Definitely, these two movies did not give justice to the well-loved story of Batman no matter how star-studded it may be.

Supergirl. (1984) Supergirl was portrayed by Helen Slater during the time that Superman was dominating the screen. It was made to ride the Superman wave but it failed miserably. The movie was star-studded with Faye Dunaway, Mia Farrow and Peter O’Toole being part of the cast. But despite the accumulation of talent, the storyline was flat and simple. Helen Slater’s performance matched the storyline with her dull expressions and blah portrayal of Supergirl. She was pretty however and did look nice in that outfit.

Catwoman (2004). This movie was nothing more than to exhibit Halle Berry’s beautiful body. The story was very predictable and the acting, by both Berry and Sharon Stone, lacked enough depth that the comic book looked more 3 dimensional. The CGI effects of Catwoman’s movements were too much that it made Halle Berry looks oddly gross.

The Hulk (2003). Ang Lee is a very good director but he killed the Hulk. The Hulk is one of the more interesting 3 dimensional characters in the Marvel World as the Hulk represented the beastly irrational side of a very scientific and logical Bruce Banner. Eric Bana was not able to portray Banner as well as he should. All he did was serve as eye candy for the female audience of the movie. But Bruce Banner is one of those heroes that do not own a good-looking secret persona. Bruce Banner is a scientist not a body-building Hector looking guy. Moreover, so much time was invested on the origin of the Hulk that the story just dragged on. For an action flick there was more talking than there was any action.

X-Men III: The Last Stand (2006). What were they thinking? X-men and X2 are two movies that would be part of my top ten list (although I only made a top 5 list) but The Final Stand was horrendous. It was so obvious that there was some politics going on behind the screens. First, Storm, Halle Berry’s character all of a sudden, with no prior build up comes to the fore of the story. Granted Storm is the leader of the X-men team and is a very significant character in the comic books, but the first two movies didn’t develop that. Moreover, they kill off Cyclops and Professor X. It turned out to be a let’s just feature Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry movie. Forget the story. Forget all the other characters. Let’s just kill them off. Despite its successful beginnings, X-men the Final Stand is one of the worst comic-adapted movie. Rumor has it they will recast X-men although spin-offs starring the original cast are being made.