Depression had printed its mark on me. I can see that every time I look down at my left arm. I thought I was this screwed up bastard and the only way I knew how to ease my being screwed up was to plunge into loneliness. I loved being sad. I would lie for hours just thinking about my miseries. I could write sad poems back then because I felt alone and I embraced the entirety of it.
It is a cliché but happiness is a choice. I did not whole-heartedly choose to be happy. I just grew out of being lonesome. I have come to accept that people come and go into our lives – I just had more people going out of my life. I did not become numb. I just stopped feeling sorry for myself. I don’t think I have already toughened up because I know I have more years ahead of me. I might be even having my first nervous breakdown when I’m forty.
As much as I would love to lengthen this article with my life saga, I wouldn’t want to delve into those miserable memories anymore. And I wouldn’t want to share to the world that part of my life. I guess I may have shared everything to people I used to consider close. I may share some more information to people I would meet in the future but I hope I would be able to limit those information. It just takes away the privacy in me.
As what I have already mentioned, people just come and go. And I have learned quite a big of a lesson. I stopped feeling close to people. I’m careful now to consider someone close. Not that I wasn’t careful before, but I’m tiptoeing on the idea now. Friendship can be strong but it will always be fragile (relative to your history).
Monday, February 8, 2010
My View on Philippine Politics
Philippine politics has always been dirty. Allegations of corruption are being thrown left and right. It used to be surprising, now it seems to be a weekly if not a daily salvo. Politics seems to be synonymous now with fraud.
Let me lay first my own definition of politics. I do not have a major in Political Science or any related degree so my definition is most likely that of a layman. Politics to me mostly refers to the responsibility or the job (or any doing) of an elected official. I think that is why an elected official is called a politician because they do politics. I also call the job of an elected official’s cohorts as politics. Politics also largely means “gaining favor” from a higher official (elected, appointed or whatever) to me. This always involves hierarchy. I have not worked in an office devoid of politics. I have done politicking to gain favors at some point. This article though would discuss more on my first definition of politics.
I remember when I was a kid that campaigning meant stickers and making paste. My family had always been supportive of a friend’s bid for the city (then municipality) council. We would go around town just to post up stickers on walls or hand out stickers and flyers to voters. During the 1995 campaign period (it could have been 1992 but I was too young then), I learned that paste was made of baking soda so somehow this became educational for me. Although the excitement would only last until the night of the election, I somehow got interested in politics through this experience.
My very first solid interest in politics was during the impeachment trial of Joseph Estrada. I was an avid viewer of the live broadcast of the trial. I was in high school then and there was this television set in the dormitory that could only receive one channel. I would always be the first one to sit in front of it after school, eat dinner for a while, then be back to watch the trial again diligently. When I would come home, I would watch the same thing. People were watching because I think people really wanted to have a change in the system. It was a real-life drama. Erap won by a landslide but most of those who voted for him felt he failed them. He turned out to be this corrupt president and was having difficulty in speaking English, which later translated to stupidity. However bad a president he was, I don’t think he was/is stupid. He became rich on his own accord, and I don’t think a fickle mind could help him do that.
The People Power Revolution of 2001 became the climax of that drama. Everyone was happy because the country was spared from a terrible president. Everyone thought that another female president could save the country from total poverty and right the wrongs done by the ousted administration. All activists against Erap were now solidly supporting Gloria Arroyo. They cheered and shouted her name during her first inauguration. Most of these activists would later turn against her due to another bout of allegations of corruption.
Arroyo’s administration had been plagued by dozens of demonstrations, and even a few coups. Personally, I do have mixed feelings for her. I was a student of the University of the Philippines in Diliman for two years. And the student activists over there are done so relentless. During my sophomore year, never was there an issue of the school paper that did not contain anti-Gloria articles. For a time, I became anti-Gloria on my own simply because I was influenced by the demonstrations done all over the university all year round. But then I became so fed up with the Collegian’s articles that it prompted me one day to send them a text message that was definitely against them. That of course was met with pissed reactions from the paper’s administrators.
I believe that no matter who the president is, activists would persist. And these activists would almost always be the same ones. These anarchists call themselves watchdogs but this “watching” that they do almost becomes paranoia sometimes. One very good example was when Hillary Clinton visited the country. A lot of these demonstrators were speculating before she arrived that Clinton was on a mission here to gain more advantages from the Philippines especially with the VFA. I personally believe that US presence in the country is advantageous for Filipinos. We need to get help from any well-developed country because the Philippines is way too underdeveloped. There may be bumps and tragedies along the way, but will we not get that from or fellow countrymen?
This election coming up is definitely not going to fall short of a spectacle. Already, Filipinos can see a lot of circus going on. One senator even called it “political prostitution”. Enemies become allies all for the sake of unity and common goals they may say. But it was almost an act of desperation. One wanted the kind of the other (never mind they had opposing views in the past), so they awkwardly politically copulated. People who witnessed the fall of Erap could never forget the names and faces of the senators and some congressmen who went up against and for him. Most of them had switched positions during the last couple of elections. If you have been to a political rally, you definitely have heard how most of these politicos trash talk each other. So they become hypocrites in their own rights. It is hard to believe that someone had a change of mind and heart at the age of 45.
Let me lay first my own definition of politics. I do not have a major in Political Science or any related degree so my definition is most likely that of a layman. Politics to me mostly refers to the responsibility or the job (or any doing) of an elected official. I think that is why an elected official is called a politician because they do politics. I also call the job of an elected official’s cohorts as politics. Politics also largely means “gaining favor” from a higher official (elected, appointed or whatever) to me. This always involves hierarchy. I have not worked in an office devoid of politics. I have done politicking to gain favors at some point. This article though would discuss more on my first definition of politics.
I remember when I was a kid that campaigning meant stickers and making paste. My family had always been supportive of a friend’s bid for the city (then municipality) council. We would go around town just to post up stickers on walls or hand out stickers and flyers to voters. During the 1995 campaign period (it could have been 1992 but I was too young then), I learned that paste was made of baking soda so somehow this became educational for me. Although the excitement would only last until the night of the election, I somehow got interested in politics through this experience.
My very first solid interest in politics was during the impeachment trial of Joseph Estrada. I was an avid viewer of the live broadcast of the trial. I was in high school then and there was this television set in the dormitory that could only receive one channel. I would always be the first one to sit in front of it after school, eat dinner for a while, then be back to watch the trial again diligently. When I would come home, I would watch the same thing. People were watching because I think people really wanted to have a change in the system. It was a real-life drama. Erap won by a landslide but most of those who voted for him felt he failed them. He turned out to be this corrupt president and was having difficulty in speaking English, which later translated to stupidity. However bad a president he was, I don’t think he was/is stupid. He became rich on his own accord, and I don’t think a fickle mind could help him do that.
The People Power Revolution of 2001 became the climax of that drama. Everyone was happy because the country was spared from a terrible president. Everyone thought that another female president could save the country from total poverty and right the wrongs done by the ousted administration. All activists against Erap were now solidly supporting Gloria Arroyo. They cheered and shouted her name during her first inauguration. Most of these activists would later turn against her due to another bout of allegations of corruption.
Arroyo’s administration had been plagued by dozens of demonstrations, and even a few coups. Personally, I do have mixed feelings for her. I was a student of the University of the Philippines in Diliman for two years. And the student activists over there are done so relentless. During my sophomore year, never was there an issue of the school paper that did not contain anti-Gloria articles. For a time, I became anti-Gloria on my own simply because I was influenced by the demonstrations done all over the university all year round. But then I became so fed up with the Collegian’s articles that it prompted me one day to send them a text message that was definitely against them. That of course was met with pissed reactions from the paper’s administrators.
I believe that no matter who the president is, activists would persist. And these activists would almost always be the same ones. These anarchists call themselves watchdogs but this “watching” that they do almost becomes paranoia sometimes. One very good example was when Hillary Clinton visited the country. A lot of these demonstrators were speculating before she arrived that Clinton was on a mission here to gain more advantages from the Philippines especially with the VFA. I personally believe that US presence in the country is advantageous for Filipinos. We need to get help from any well-developed country because the Philippines is way too underdeveloped. There may be bumps and tragedies along the way, but will we not get that from or fellow countrymen?
This election coming up is definitely not going to fall short of a spectacle. Already, Filipinos can see a lot of circus going on. One senator even called it “political prostitution”. Enemies become allies all for the sake of unity and common goals they may say. But it was almost an act of desperation. One wanted the kind of the other (never mind they had opposing views in the past), so they awkwardly politically copulated. People who witnessed the fall of Erap could never forget the names and faces of the senators and some congressmen who went up against and for him. Most of them had switched positions during the last couple of elections. If you have been to a political rally, you definitely have heard how most of these politicos trash talk each other. So they become hypocrites in their own rights. It is hard to believe that someone had a change of mind and heart at the age of 45.
What on Earth is Celiac
Celiac is a genetic digestive disease that attacks the small intestine. The small intestine is the part of the digestive system that is responsible for most digestive processes. This is where nutrients in food are mostly absorbed by the body.
A person with Celiac disease develops a reaction to gluten, a protein commonly found in wheat and other types of cereal. Gluten causes the small intestine to damage making it lose his nutrient-absorbing parts. Since absorption of food mostly happens in the small intestine, symptoms are related to nutrient deficiency. These include diarrhea due to malabsorption, weight loss or growth failure common to children, and fatigue, but some patients diagnosed with Celiac show little or no signs of known symptoms. Some even have symptoms that originate from other organs. The said disease is also linked to numerous other medical conditions based on the number of patients that exhibit one or more of these conditions while diagnosed with Celiac, but there has been no concrete evidence yet to prove that these other conditions are directly connected or caused by Celiac.
A 2005 study has proven that genetically susceptible people exposed to gluten-rich food within three months after birth were five times more likely to develop Celiac than people exposed after four to six months. The three months right after birth is the time when the gut barrier of an infant is still developing. This gut barrier is composed of bacteria that helps boost the immune system and produce some vitamins.
The first that should be performed to determine whether a person has Celiac is the blood test. This should be done to check the blood for anti-transglutaminase antibodies (ATA). A high level of ATA signifies the presence of Celiac disease. However, if the blood test result turns out to be negative, this does not mean the person does not have Ciliac. An endoscopy of the small intestine should be performed to double-check the diagnosis. There should be five characteristics present and all of them refer to the appearance of the small intestine.
The only effective treatment available right now is the gluten-free diet. This means that the affected person must avoid eating food items containing gluten such as wheat, barley and rye. This diet must be religiously implemented with the help of a dietician. The absence of gluten helps repair the damage it has done to the small intestine. Gluten-free diet has caused a stir in some religions specifically Catholicism and Judaism since they require all their members to take wheat items (i.e. the Host and the unleavened bread). No other treatment has been proven to cure Celiac.
A person with Celiac disease develops a reaction to gluten, a protein commonly found in wheat and other types of cereal. Gluten causes the small intestine to damage making it lose his nutrient-absorbing parts. Since absorption of food mostly happens in the small intestine, symptoms are related to nutrient deficiency. These include diarrhea due to malabsorption, weight loss or growth failure common to children, and fatigue, but some patients diagnosed with Celiac show little or no signs of known symptoms. Some even have symptoms that originate from other organs. The said disease is also linked to numerous other medical conditions based on the number of patients that exhibit one or more of these conditions while diagnosed with Celiac, but there has been no concrete evidence yet to prove that these other conditions are directly connected or caused by Celiac.
A 2005 study has proven that genetically susceptible people exposed to gluten-rich food within three months after birth were five times more likely to develop Celiac than people exposed after four to six months. The three months right after birth is the time when the gut barrier of an infant is still developing. This gut barrier is composed of bacteria that helps boost the immune system and produce some vitamins.
The first that should be performed to determine whether a person has Celiac is the blood test. This should be done to check the blood for anti-transglutaminase antibodies (ATA). A high level of ATA signifies the presence of Celiac disease. However, if the blood test result turns out to be negative, this does not mean the person does not have Ciliac. An endoscopy of the small intestine should be performed to double-check the diagnosis. There should be five characteristics present and all of them refer to the appearance of the small intestine.
The only effective treatment available right now is the gluten-free diet. This means that the affected person must avoid eating food items containing gluten such as wheat, barley and rye. This diet must be religiously implemented with the help of a dietician. The absence of gluten helps repair the damage it has done to the small intestine. Gluten-free diet has caused a stir in some religions specifically Catholicism and Judaism since they require all their members to take wheat items (i.e. the Host and the unleavened bread). No other treatment has been proven to cure Celiac.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Best in Kids Typing Games
Kids typing games offer parents with assistance in leading their children to the right path. These games are fun to play and at the same time, they also teach children a much-needed skill when they grow up.
Computer nowadays is a tool of necessity. It is a necessary device for everyone whether it is someone in a big corporation or just in a simple household. Almost every job requires computer skills and with computer skills come typing skills. The faster a person types, the more work he/she will accomplish in a given time. To enhance a child’s typing skill, parents must start teaching their children while young. This simple act just signifies that the parents are securing their child’s future. It is not easy to teach kids anything because most of them cannot maintain a degree of focus for a long time. It has to be fun and interactive to allow more participation from them.
There are hundreds of kids typing games that are available online. Just opening one website related to kiddie games will already yield dozens of these games. It is important for parents to carefully choose the right games for their kids because if there are numerous helpful games, there are also more materials that are psychologically harmful and inappropriate for minors.
Nimblefingers.com provides lessons regarding the proper way of typing. Children can learn what fingers to use to for what letters at an early age. Using all ten fingers for the keyboard yields quicker input. The activity starts from beginner keys and slowly progresses to advanced keys. In this way, you will be able to teach your child the basics in typing. Then once you think your child is ready, a game using virtual flash cards is readily available in the site.
LearningGamesForKids.com has a section specially dedicated to Keyboarding Games. This section has four different kinds of kids typing games which are fun and easy to learn. This is perfect for children who already have some typing experience since the games do not offer any skill progression or levelling up.
Kids.learn2type.com is fully equipped with tutorials and games that are designed for grade school students. Access to the site requires a username and a password. Once logged in, the site suggests the lessons to be taken first but you also have the option to access the games right away.
There are also stand-alone that can be bought and installed in your computer. Typing Instructor for Kids created by Individual Software and Jumpstart Typing by Knowledge Adventure offer tutorials on video and kids typing games. Spongebob Squarepants Typing which is produced by Encore Software has a fun style of challenge levels which can be taken by progression. Almost all children love Spongebob being one of the most identified cartoon characters on television right now so you are assured that your child will enjoy the game.
The websites and games mentioned above are the most highly recommended and suitable for children. For you to give an enjoyable but a learning experience to your kids, you can visit these websites or gather information about these kids typing games.
Getting the right online preschool games for your child
The concept of online preschool games is making small children get more focused and concentrated on acquiring knowledge while still young. At preschool age though, which ranges between three and five years old, kids are very active and more attentive to playthings rather than lessons. Preschool teachers always devise ways and methods to make children pay more attention to learning.
In order to further improve a child’s knowledge, parents must also give children supplemental lessons at home. Parents should not simply put this responsibility on the teachers’ shoulders because it is a lifelong relationship that exists between parents and children. No matter what becomes of a situation, failure of a son or a daughter will always reflect on the mother or the father or sometimes even stepparents so instilling knowledge in kids is a very important role parents should take.
To create a fun environment for toddlers, parents must find ways in making a game or an activity out of lessons. These games should enhance the alertness and appetite of the children. As most parents know their children’s behavior, it will be just easier for them to build a trust between them and the kids.
The Internet is a very good resource of activities meant for children. Preschool online games are very much accessible and are also very diverse. Most of these games have been tapered and fine tuned by experts to suit the needs of toddlers in learning basic knowledge.
A simple search will yield thousands of results with probably scores of relevant ones. Some of these websites are solely dedicated for younger children. As what everyone already knows, the Internet is swarming with information regarding almost anything so looking for a good child-friendly website is not as hard as finding a needle in the haystack.
Online preschool games are designed to be playful, fun, colorful, and positive. Children of all ages like these characteristics. Child experts like child psychologists and instructors have been hired to create these games that target different areas in a child’s learning. These games may range from gardening games to online board games to math games. Parents can be either specific or general on what they would want their kids to learn. However, it is important to ask the child’s opinion. It may not be a mature opinion but the parents would be able to know what delights their children.
Online preschool games might be very helpful to both kids and adults, but there might be some bumps along the way if the children are not closely guarded. If you are a parent, please be mindful of parental controls. New operating systems already have this feature. Websites with explicit contents are more abundant than child-friendly website so great care is needed. Also, too much computer can also harm children. If they are not properly monitored, the kids might get addicted which might lead to them not doing homeworks which might eventually lead to skipping school. It is very much advisable that hand-in-hand playing should occur between the parents and the children.
Websites like preschoollearningonline.com, learn4good.com, and nickjr.com are highly recommended sources for online preschool games.
Learning Math the Fun Way
Although only designed for children, kids math games can be fun not only for kids but also for parents and teachers alike. It is comparable to preparing a vegetable dish with lots of colors. In some ways, math and vegetable are the same – kids hate them.
Math is a dreaded subject for a lot of students. It has become a silent notion that once you are good in Math, then you are a genius. It may or may not be true but that does not mean that only geniuses need to study the subject. It is imperative for everyone to learn mathematics because math involves numbers and numbers are found virtually everywhere. Getting a child’s attention to participate in something he/she finds difficult is no ordinary task. Every parent knows that rearing up a child means a lot of patience. But due to man’s insistence of making things in life easier, games were devised out of complicated subjects.
Since math is a general subject that branches out into several other subjects, kids math games especially those found online are very diverse. The themes and designs also vary but they are all very enticing to the kids. The fact that there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of games available online makes boredom among children almost impossible. Animation also enhances the entertainment value of these games, but there are also printable materials that can be used for offline activities. Free online games also have the capability to give accurate and prompt results so the kids feel rewarded after a given task.
Coolmath4kids.com is a very rich source of kids math games. From the moment you open the website, you would immediately know that it very child-friendly because of the colors. The content does not fail you either. It has preparatory games for toddlers to flash cards for grade school students. It also has a link called coolmath.com for the not-so-young kids ages thirteen to fifteen.
Coolmath-games.com also has the same color interface as the previous website mentioned above but it contains more puzzles which test the analytic skills of the children. This way you are ensuring that the kids can look at a problem and find ways to solve it. Playkidsgames.com has a Math Games section that has basic math operation incorporated into popular games like pinball.
There are also educational software programs that are dedicated to teaching kids of the fundamentals of math. The Learning has made some of these games that combine animation and knowledge-building through interactive programs. Reader Rabbit Math Adventure and Arthur’s Math Games are just some of these programs. Scholastic Math Missions by Topics Entertainment is also available for sale. It offers a card game that can boost a kid’s alertness in mathematical operations.
Of course, there are real math games that can be played in a live setting. A flash card drill can be more worthwhile if a parent or instructor is creative enough to create a fun environment. Board games like the Math Board Game itself are available in department stores and shopping sites. Some kids math games are also available through software made for other consoles like the Playstation series and Xbox 360.
A parent should be responsible in giving their kids knowledge so grab one of your most favorite kids math games now.
Free Preschool Games – the Answer to Recession
Free preschool games are good examples of teaching kids without shedding any cash. There are lots of available preschool whether at home or online. The availability would all depend on the parent’s creativity.
In these tough times, it is important for everyone to save anything they can save. From using energy-efficient light bulbs to slashing telephone usage, people need to reduce all their spending. However, that does not mean that important things need to be sacrificed. Ingenuity is the key. Finding free stuffs is wiser than wholly getting rid of them. One of the priorities that still need to be prioritized is your kids’ education. Investing in this aspect is very substantial for the future of the children. It is an investment that can pay you in a whole lot of different ways.
Free preschool games can be a solution to the educational need of growing families. Why buy expensive toys that promote little knowledge when you can just devise or find educational games for your preschooler? Materials can be just found inside your home and full games can be just easily accessed online. Saving and learning can be achieved through simple resourcefulness.
You can make an alphabet scrapbook made of cut-outs from magazines. You can then let your child find images of objects that start with the given letter and paste them to the page solely dedicated for that letter. You can also announce a letter day for the house by posting or hanging the chosen letter in a fixed place. You can have your child find objects that start with that letter. This is good in households with many children as you can have the children count as many objects they can find, which can turn into a competition.
Most families have Internet connection so getting free preschool games online is as easy as one-two-three. As an attentive parent, you probably already know what cartoon character your child likes. Make this as a starting idea. Look for games themed with their favorite cartoon character. This way, it would be easier for you to entice your kid to participate in the activity. The main advantage of online games designed for kids is that they are animated and designed by experts. They also offer variety so the kids will never be bored. It is important for parents though to watch the kids’ activities carefully to avoid them from accessing inappropriate materials.
Free preschool games are very much in use inside classrooms. These help the teachers stimulate the children’s hunger for acquiring knowledge. With the prevalence of digital technology, some preschool administrators have approved computer use so using free preschool games found online can ease the responsibility of teachers.
Most importantly, no matter what the condition of the economy is, a child’s education should never be taken for granted. Unleash that creativity in you. Keep in mind that these free preschool games can save you lots of money during these tough times.
How can educational games for kids really help?
Educational games for kids are literally everywhere. They range from real-life board games to free online games. They can also be easily bought or accessed. Department stores have toy sections where you can find tons of games. While not all of them can be educational, games like scrabble and chess are not really hard to find. Popular websites like Facebook and Yahoo offer a section of games, most of which are child-friendly.
Parents can also devise their own games for their kids. Solving a simple math problem can turn into a worthwhile activity if the parents are inventive enough to add a little twist into it. It takes creativity and resourcefulness to accomplish this.
Word games are the most common. Some of the most popular kinds are Hangman, Boggle, crossword puzzles, scribbage, and the most famous scrabble. These games allow children to learn more words. Difficult words can force them to look up the dictionary and learn the definitions in the process. Boggle, scrabble, and scribbage can create the competitive edge in children by letting two or more kids play against each other. While crosswords were invented to satisfy adults, simple crosswords are found in some children educational books. Parents can also make crosswords on their own or better, include their children while they are answering their favorite newspaper crosswords.
There are also card games that can help a child’s learning. Flash card games are not just limited to basic mathematical operations. This type of educational games for kids can also broaden their concept on animals, geography, and sports, which is perfect for toddlers.
Educational games for kids can also be in the form of video games. These games have undergone an evolution from simple entertainment to purely educational. Some researchers had already proposed that some video and computer games be used in a classroom setting for serious learning. This is in parallel with the progress the world is making through digital technology development. Some of these games encourage strategic thinking, while some focus on direct teaching.
Educational games for kids also flood the online environment. Just one search in Google will give you thousands of options of websites that can be comprehensive, enjoyable, and helpful in learning. Websites that appear on top of the list include learninggamesforkids.com and playkidsgames.com. The former has plenty of games regarding subjects like music and the arts, health, and science. In playkidsgames.com, you can even create a classroom where you can bring the children and play an online class setting.
However, not most people agree with this system. Questions are being raised regarding the effectiveness of computers and the Internet for students. The main issue is that online contents are not regulated so without proper guidance, the Internet can be potentially harmful.
Parents and teachers should always see to it that the children are conforming to the path they should take when it comes to learning. Educational games for kids are there as supplements, but guarding the children must their utmost priority.
Where Can I Fill Out A Mcdonalds Application Online?
*Important: I wrote this article for collegemoneymakingideas.com when I was still employed as the site's webmaster
If you are a college student and is looking for a job to help you in your financial needs, what could be more appropriate than getting into a big company. McDonalds is probably the first company in the job list of many students. It is easy to go to any McDonalds outlet because they are just about everywhere. You can just go to any of the outlets and submit your application in person.
But we all know that college students are busy people. There are just about tons of things to study when you are in college so most of the time, students no longer have time for any other things. If you are really interested in applying for a job and to get that money to supplement your daily expenditures, then you need to find time to apply in person. However, it is just a hassle to groom yourself when you are not even going to be interviewed right away. The best alternative for that is to submit your McDonalds application online.
With the advent of modern technology, the Internet has been a rich source for almost anything. You can just use the worldwide web to submit your McDonalds application online. You can do this fast unlike submitting the application in person which will require you to walk or commute for several miles. McDonalds application online can be filed out in just a matter of few minutes.
McDonalds application online can be easily accessed on any location. You can easily find a job in an restaurant near you because theMcDonalds application online will direct you to specific outlets in your area or any chosen city. Before you are able to access the McDonalds application online form, you will be allowed to choose what position you would like to apply for. If you are just starting, I suggest you choose Restaurant Crew first because that position does not require any previous experience, but if you have worked on related job before, then you can go shoot for higher positions like Hourly Manager, Assistant Manager, and Restaurant Manager.
To start off your job hunting now, you can go to McDonalds official career page at
Want To Know How To Write A Movie Review?
*Important: I was the one who made this article in collegemoneymakingideas.com when I was still employed as the webmaster of the site under the name Zack.
Because of my extensive knowledge in modern movies, I became a good film critique in my own right. I had a professor who would always ask us to write reviews of the movies shown in our university theater, which was always free by the way, or the tickets were sold at big discounts. I became a prominent figure in my class because he always appreciated my writing style and the way I critiqued movies, which makes me realize now that my professor could have been a big influence why I pursued a writing career now.
I never had any problems in thinking how to write a movie review because I was always an opinionated person. I was – and still am – a quiet person, but I never felt shy to write my own views of my experience. I was always an open book – literally.
Since I made it my mission to help college students in making profits to help them get through occasional financial issues, I have thought of putting down tips on how to write a movie review. Let me tell you first though that I may not be a professional movie reviewer, but I was trained for it.
The first thing you have to keep in mind before writing a movie review is to have an initial knowledge of the movie you are planning to see. If the movie features famous Hollywood actors, it is not just enough to recognize their name. Research about their previous works. Know why they were cast into the movie. Also, make a lot of research about the director. Learn what genre he is used to and if he had received awards prior to his latest project. Do not also forget to search for the background of the film. If the movie is based on an event or a real person, then study their history. You might get left out by the movie itself.
When you really want to know how to write a movie review, look at how professional film reviewers do it. They usually use one-liners (sometimes it could just be a word) to describe their overall conclusion. Know what these phrases are because you can use these in making your own movie review.
In order to grab the attention of your reader, you need to create a catchy first paragraph. Use a phrase used in the movie you think it would be known for. Describe how it impacts you or how it can appeal to other people. Since you are writing a movie review, you do not need to always use positive phrases. You can also quote lousy scripts that you thought brought down the movie. Knowing how to write a movie review is just like the film itself. It’s not just in the first paragraph. You want your reader to continue reading until the very last word.
Provide a little recap for your reader, but never disclose a big spoiler. You can do this, however, if you want to create a different style of writing, but warn your reader first. Limit the spoiler you will be disclosing to just about five to ten
minutes of a scene. Most moviegoers do not like to be told of what they want to see. I bet you don’t like it either.
Lastly, you are writing a movie review so be honest. Unless you have been paid by the producers to advertise the movie, do not sell the movie by giving all the good facts and ignoring the bad scenes. You can encourage your reader to watch the film if it is really worth watching, but be neutral as much as possible. If you are writing about an X-rated film, I don’t think it is a bad idea to be frank of what you saw but just be professional about it. Being emotional about it is already creepy.
To be able to maximize your earning opportunity and have more readers, be the first on the scene. If there is a premiere night in your area, purchase a ticket right away. You do not want to make a review about “Titanic” because I’m sure that by now, more than half of the world has seen it. It also pays to know some people in show business. It’s tough if you don’t have that thick of a face, but it pays well.
My Job - Posted in my Facebook
Thanks to my friend Marc, I have found a rewarding online job. I would like to consider myself now as an online freelance writer.
The job could be funny sometimes because you are made to rewrite articles that are unintelligible and just plain preposterous. But I am actually learning a lot. I've covered different topics from waffle makers to psoriasis to Charlie Sheen.
In the short time that I have been a freelance writer, I now somehow know the ins and outs of the business. I started this thing charging a dollar per article. However, to Americans, it was really cheap. So I started charging more. As it is freelancing and I'm not very well known yet in the freelance community, I just bid and then leave the projects they send me if I have procrastinated long enough not to have done it.
When I was so overloaded the other day, I tried to outsource my projects to other "writers" much to my dismay. There were about 6 people who placed a bid on my project. Two of the people simply did not just pass because their messages were already dismantled English. There were two people that impressed me with their portfolio so I gave them the job. I just gave them 2 articles each to write/rewrite and oh my lord was their work a complete plagiarism.
In the real world, plagiarism is defined as copying even a simple thought or idea. However, in online freelancing, it has a broader definition. Most people in that business define the term as copying the sentence verbatim. There is actually some software and programs designed to detect this. This is one thing that clients are really avoiding. It is primarily because if Google detects two identical articles, it would eliminate the later version. It's an SEO thing. And speaking of SEO, one has to repeat the keywords given exactly as they are x times in a sentence. That x times would always be at least 2-3% of the article, which is very achievable.
Back to plagiarism. Those two people that got me impressed were just mere scammers. They probably thought I was not smart enough to not detect what they have done. I told them that I did not have a software to detect whether their work was a plagiarism or not. I think they capitalized on that. But a simple "quote" search in Google really told me that everything they did was just copied and pasted. One of them just even changed the font that when I copied his document to my document, all links/tags appeared - the same thing used in Wikipedia when the whole sentence contained words or phrases with a Wikipedia definition. Unfortunately for him, I was using the same source as he was using but I just know how to twist and turn the words to appear different.
I really disgust these writers. I was even told by one of my clients that out of the 10 people who placed a bid on his project, I was the only one who gave him an unplagiarized sample (we were made to rewrite something he assigned). I was promised a $200 monthly salary for something so easy and my client placed it on the project title when he posted it. I am sure that there were "serious" writers who placed a bid. The fact that the site I'm using is thriving with fake writers is very sad.
This may not be a permanent job and this might not be a serious job to some, but I love it. I get to do what I like. I did not study to become a writer - hell I did not even finish college - but I'm serious about writing. This seems to be easy for me. If you have reached this part, I'm sure you would've noticed how perfect my grammar is. Why make it go to waste?
The job could be funny sometimes because you are made to rewrite articles that are unintelligible and just plain preposterous. But I am actually learning a lot. I've covered different topics from waffle makers to psoriasis to Charlie Sheen.
In the short time that I have been a freelance writer, I now somehow know the ins and outs of the business. I started this thing charging a dollar per article. However, to Americans, it was really cheap. So I started charging more. As it is freelancing and I'm not very well known yet in the freelance community, I just bid and then leave the projects they send me if I have procrastinated long enough not to have done it.
When I was so overloaded the other day, I tried to outsource my projects to other "writers" much to my dismay. There were about 6 people who placed a bid on my project. Two of the people simply did not just pass because their messages were already dismantled English. There were two people that impressed me with their portfolio so I gave them the job. I just gave them 2 articles each to write/rewrite and oh my lord was their work a complete plagiarism.
In the real world, plagiarism is defined as copying even a simple thought or idea. However, in online freelancing, it has a broader definition. Most people in that business define the term as copying the sentence verbatim. There is actually some software and programs designed to detect this. This is one thing that clients are really avoiding. It is primarily because if Google detects two identical articles, it would eliminate the later version. It's an SEO thing. And speaking of SEO, one has to repeat the keywords given exactly as they are x times in a sentence. That x times would always be at least 2-3% of the article, which is very achievable.
Back to plagiarism. Those two people that got me impressed were just mere scammers. They probably thought I was not smart enough to not detect what they have done. I told them that I did not have a software to detect whether their work was a plagiarism or not. I think they capitalized on that. But a simple "quote" search in Google really told me that everything they did was just copied and pasted. One of them just even changed the font that when I copied his document to my document, all links/tags appeared - the same thing used in Wikipedia when the whole sentence contained words or phrases with a Wikipedia definition. Unfortunately for him, I was using the same source as he was using but I just know how to twist and turn the words to appear different.
I really disgust these writers. I was even told by one of my clients that out of the 10 people who placed a bid on his project, I was the only one who gave him an unplagiarized sample (we were made to rewrite something he assigned). I was promised a $200 monthly salary for something so easy and my client placed it on the project title when he posted it. I am sure that there were "serious" writers who placed a bid. The fact that the site I'm using is thriving with fake writers is very sad.
This may not be a permanent job and this might not be a serious job to some, but I love it. I get to do what I like. I did not study to become a writer - hell I did not even finish college - but I'm serious about writing. This seems to be easy for me. If you have reached this part, I'm sure you would've noticed how perfect my grammar is. Why make it go to waste?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
