We’ve all been fallen victims by brilliant manipulators into believing we are ever so capable of achieving accomplishments, big and small. These manipulators are those individuals who are either psychopaths or are in deep shit that they have to train themselves into possessing a cunning mind so they could pay their debtors full price. Most of the time, they are psychopaths.

Psychopaths are individuals who are given an advanced manner of thinking when compared to your everyday person. It has also to be pointed out that even though these people excel in certain factors, they are also proportionately lacking in some like their emotional quotients. This is only true at birth. It’s up to the person how they take care of their deficiencies and act alongside everybody else.

In a world such as the one we live in, the previous statement might not be considered at all by the wonderful minds. They own incredible intellect that they utilized to the limit so they could survive in this cruel world. Really, it’s not only them that are to blame for their tricky actions. The people who are tricked are also to blame, or should they?

Instigators

These people are those that hold grand creativity that they are able to construct believable accounts referenced by reputable foundations. Take for example those that attempt to sell you cheap mobile phones that they display on their stands positioned on the sidewalks and shout out how affordable their products are. Once they catch a slight hint of interest upon your face, they would then launch out their memorized piece and he will sweep you off your feet, like a sworn lover to his muse.

Believers

Sometimes the fault is with the victim. Some might even say it’s real foolish to trust someone you only just met.  But can you really blame them? It’s not their fault these master manipulators know just where to get them. Then again, we are thought to never talk to strangers and more importantly, to never trust them no matter how good they sound.

Situation

There are incidents that call for rush decisions. Concerns like the price, quality, and reliability do not matter. These manipulators are oftentimes stationed at near locations where they can dupe innocent persons into buying their merchandise. There are unreasonable bosses that make you do their personal chores like getting their pre-ordered replacement parts! Other bosses will even have you get them a luxury leather flip case because they forgot to buy their girlfriends or boyfriends the day before. Where else will you turn to but those easy-access retailers?

In conclusion, any of these three involved could hold the blame. Although there is still one more factor that hasn’t been considered – luck. Some people are simply ill-fated to be hoodwinked by these clever operators.

The world is a jungle of discord. It’s a dog eats dog world out there. Opportunities are equally as many as the roadblocks we face. You may be thinking, “What is that thing that separates the successful from the unsuccessful?” Is it the color of their teeth, the amount of body fat, the number of hair in their armpits...Or maybe their intelligence?

Intelligence Quotient or IQ is probably one of the best indicators of human ability and potential. Higher IQ scores are associated with better academic accomplishment, outstanding job performance, and higher earning capacity. Most often than not people with IQ scores classified as “exceptional” and above achieve more in their professional endeavours as compared with people having lower than the said class.

It was believed that one’s IQ remains the same from childhood to adulthood. But recent studies suggest that the IQ of a person can increase if one takes care of himself and stimulates his brain habitually. Here are some tips to boost your IQ to the next level:

1.       Choose brain foods. Oily fish such as salmon, mackarel, herring, and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential oils that cannot be produced by our body. According to some studies, they are good for the brain. Nuts and seeds also contribute to slower cognitive function decline because they contain rich amounts of vitamin E.

2.       Get enough sleep. After a long day at work or school, your brain gets tired from all the thinking. It is advisable to complete an 8-hour sleep daily to help your brain convert short-term memory to long-term.

3.       Physical activity. Exercise promotes blood circulation to the brain. More oxygen to the brain means more energy for thinking.

4.       Don’t let technology slow you down. While it is true that computers from the calculator to the latest gadgets available in the market speed up our daily tasks, too much dependence on these devices can have an opposite effect in the long run. British psychiatrist Glenn Wilson found out that workers who are overly distracted with technology suffer greater loss of IQ than of those who smoke marijuana.

5.       Challenge yourself. Find a way to get out from your same old routine. Explore something new and find challenging activities that stimulate your brain. Try reading books, learn a new language, or play crossword puzzles or Sudoku in your smartphone.

6.       Listen to music. A group of researchers from the University of California gave two groups of college students an IQ test measuring abstract reasoning. One group was asked to listen Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D-major before the test. Results show that the group which listened to the piece scored 7 to 10 points better versus the other group.

7.       Make caffeine your best friend. Coffee and tea are both rich in caffeine that can help stimulate brain function for a limited time. Drinking a cup of caffeine goodness increases your alertness and intelligence to help you keep your mind prepared.

Although having higher IQ does not ensure a good life, it can make you feel more confident knowing that written in a piece of paper is an indication that you have the ability to be someone great. Who knows, that added ounce of confidence may take you to places you never thought of reaching.

We’ve reached another year to fill up with great stories that shall be rewarded with our praises and deserving fascination. There are just so much to look forward to that every waiting minute is like a breath of air is being robbed. There’s the World Wide Web to comfort your worries as to when and where your yearnings are to be launched and delivered for everyone’s satisfaction.

This time, it’s not those extravagant smartphones taking the stage. Some other extravagant contraption shall be positioned in the spotlight – tablets. They come in various forms with their corresponding functionalities. There are the slate computers, booklets or e-readers, convertibles, and hybrids. Each form provides their intended operation. In order to boost their given utilities, we buy tablet accessories such as speakers, protective cases, and rotating case stands.

On the other hand, e-readers are selling their way through the market as books are being converted into their digital versions. That’s why there are specially made accessories or eBook accessories so our reading experience will be as good as if it was a reading session with the author himself. I can’t wait for these books to be released so I could finally indulge myself into yet another world of heart-stopping adventures.

INFERNO by Dan Brown

The long-awaited sequel to Robert Langdon’s adventure is about to unfold in July of this year. Right when we thought it was the last for Brown’s brilliant conceptions, now he offers us with another of the controversial historical works of art – Dante’s Inferno. Once again, Langdon is tasked to save the world from sure darkness with only his knowledge in symbology at hand. Will he be successful and have a partner for good in this volume?

THE BEST OF ME by Nicholas Sparks

With your book-style case attached to an e-reader, you can feel the love and passion thrown by two lovers, Amanda and Dawson, in another novel written by the master of heart-bursting emotions, Nicholas Sparks. This time, the story is about love that was found then lost and then rewritten for the sake of unwavering emotions. Like his other best-selling novels, The Best of Me may actually be the best of Sparks’ work.

REQUIEM by Lauren Oliver

The finale to Lauren Oliver’s best-selling Delirium has raised its flag for everyone to see. The third part story will now revolve around an all-out revolution where Lena becomes the focal point. What will this breathtaking tale conclude with now that Lena’s first love will come back to haunt her dreams?

NEFERET’S CURSE: A HOUSE OF NIGHT NOVELLA by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

A side story to the eight-part series of the House of Night created by father and daughter P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. This time around, the book will focus on the villainous greed of Neferet who originally was named Emily Wheiler. Bits of her past were mentioned in the previous novels of how she became a victim to his own family and how her being Marked salvaged her sad fate. Like every good author, a tour into the life of the top villain in Zoey’s vampyre life is a necessity before the war ends.

Love and hate; peace and war – the life of every story concocted by ingenious authors who share with us their own version of the world. I just can’t wait.

As we grow older, we take in some of the lessons taught to us by the invaluable people in our lives. For the first ten years of our life, it is our loving parents who take the part of instilling us with the introductory morals and ethics we are expected to mature with. Professionalism is one of the core values we should always regard after the eight more years that follow.

Professionalism can be achieved in many ways through different persons. Simply following the rules and guidelines can put in a sense of professionalism within you. Becoming an open-minded individual is the foundation towards becoming a professional employee to your co-workers and directors. Factors that display your expert side should always be kept at heart:

1.       Dress code. The most basic presentation of your professional self is through strict observance of the dress code most especially in work places. During a job interview, you dress up into your spotless suit and pants so as to impress your prospective manager. Neckties complete the set because these little add-ons depicts expert on its own. Careful not to mix the black ones with the festive neckties. The human resource officer will turn his attention to the tie instead of you. And nobody wants to be ignored at first sight especially when your goal is to impress without limit.

2.       Personal Hygiene. Never mind it if your clothing is designed with pin stripes. If you show up at work without your teeth brushed and your body washed up. Please, just please. Be considerate enough for the people around you who might unfortunately smell you as you walk over their stations. Their working mojo will easily be destroyed just at the sight of you. It doesn’t matter whether the company or department wills an air of casualty in the office. You smell and look disgusting, you’re out!

3.       Personality. It is a must to have an adaptive personality as you struggle your way into the real world. Experiences you might encounter will test your endurance up to your limit so you should make sure your strong enough to live through them. As a professional, being open-minded is of utmost significance. There are a lot of things that will truly render you speechless and if you’re body and mind are not ready for it, you might lose the game.

Becoming a professional is hard work which is in equal ground with gaining respect as an individual. A person should constantly check himself, his actions, and his words to continue living without worry which in itself is a paradox. And this may be one of the most important lessons of maturity that we continuously have to go through by ourselves.

Ever noticed a happy couple holding hands in the park, laughing their hearts out while feeding each other cotton candies? Those picture-perfect pairs which are too good to be true are only possibly seen on movies. Oops! Do not put an immediate conclusion to that. There are still happily in love real life couples who still hold hands fifty years after taking their vows. Become the awesome twosomes and turn on the “honeymoon mode” in your happy and healthy relationship by doing the right things. Keep it healthy and successful by following these smooth-sailing tips:

1.       Always go back to the real reason why you are together.

While it is nice to be a good parent to your child, you also have to be a good wife to your husband and vice versa. Your offsprings are the fruit of your love for each other. They are there because of you two. Both of you are not here because of them. In other words, you do not stay together for the sake of the children. Instead, the kids make your bond more intact. In the first place, it was the love which brought you together.

2.       Know what makes him or her happy.

Knowing each other is an everyday work in progress. Exceeding the getting to know stage, at this point you should have mastered the basic likes and dislikes of your spouse. Whether he likes football more than basketball, action over romance comedy films, and a heavy rice meal over a vegetable salad, it is important to take note of what he likes. Indulge him often in these sources of happiness and he will certainly appreciate it. Rather than whining everyday and constantly checking his smartphone like a suspicious girlfriend, why not just try to do everything with love and concern?

3.       Reassure your partner every day.

Do not just sulk in one corner and think about how your partner does not appreciate all your efforts. Worst case scenario when holding up your resentment, you might look for reassurance somewhere else or from someone else. To avoid this issue, express your gratitude more often. It is a good way to keep admiring each other every day. Make every day a Valentine’s Day by making your spouse feel special all the time. The key is to acknowledge his strengths and to understand his weaknesses.

4.       Engage in some humor.

Marriage is a sacred thing. It is not something to be merely laughed about or something that can be easily let go of like your latest gadgets. On the other hand, learning to share belly laughs can help straighten crumpled areas on your relationship. Taking it from the old cliché, “Laughter is the best medicine”, do not forget to exchange daily giggles by making each other laugh. What a nice way to bond with your loved one.

5.       Spend quality time with your partner.

Allow time for each other even if your work gets on your way. No excuses. Making an effort to do this can make you stay longer together. This simply means you value your family more than your other priorities.

6.       Promote individual interests.

Before you were united as one, you were two different persons first. Aside from maturing as a couple, you also have to grow individually. Respect each other’s individuality by letting each other pursue what is close to your hearts. If he likes to go biking with his friends and you want to do yoga, go ahead. Give each other some freedom. This way, you remind each other why you fell in love with that gym buff or that health conscious woman.

Your spouses are not like your cell phone accessories or your mobile back cases that serve as add-ons to your smartphone. You married them because you pictured and hoped to have a future with them. Bear in mind that you need to maintain how you see each other. Like how Kangaroo Care works for babies, your partner too needs your touch therapy to make them feel secured and comforted. Frequent hugs, cuddling, holding hands, and forehead kisses keep the relationship warm. Make certain that the spark does not fizzle, instead make it ignite.

The perfect quality time with your partner may not be the most expensive one. It can be as simple as cuddling in bed all day or simply preparing a heart-warming meal for dinner. If you are one scared person for pots, try other means which can be equally cheaper yet will make your Valentine’s Day celebration touching and worth remembering. Now that it is the Valentine’s week, plans are all getting scheduled. Will you wait any longer? Do not engage in last-minute preparations for this special occasion. You do not have to go that far to please your loved one. You can pull off the most romantic Valentine’s Day idea just by simply opening your home theater system, sit beside your better half on the couch while wrapping her inside your arms, clink glasses of red wine, and enjoy a sweet and romantic movie time together.

To make it more of the actual movie house ambiance, you may grab your latest mobile phone or tablet and connect it to your flat screen television or on a projector to mimic the wide screen view of a film theater  Download the top five best Valentine’s Day movies that you think both of you will surely love. Perhaps the top five include these:

1.       The Notebook

The movie that made every heart melt during its time and the succeeding generations as well. The Notebook belongs to the old-fashioned tearjerkers of all time. Based from the famous Nicholas Sparks’ novel, this movie adaptation focuses on how first love never dies. Through an old, faded notebook, the story of the two young lovers Noah and Allie were once again reminisced by an old man reading their love story to an old woman at a nursing home. Despite the obstacles which led to their separation, they finally became reunited and answered the call of a second chance.

2.       Twilight

The Twilight saga is a series of four fantasy romance novels authored by Stephenie Meyer. The movie tackles about a teenage girl who risks everything after falling in love with a hundred-year-old vampire. Their unconditional love for each other crossed both the human world and the vampires. They chose to fight for their love in spite the chain of consequences they dealt with. For those who are adventurous when it comes to love, how far can you go?

3.       Love Actually

The film that showcased different angles of love, Love Actually follows more than ten pairs who fell in love and fall out of it with the wrong and right people. As each individual finds his or her way to the rightful one, they encounter different hurdles along the way. Love indeed is for everyone. It knows no age, no social hierarchy.

4.       Serendipity

Serendipity teaches us that if love is meant to be, it will be. This movie talks about how the magic of destiny works. The characters have gone to different places and even questioned if their love was really meant to be. Yet, fate brought them back together.

5.       Titanic

A 100-year old woman named Rose narrates her story of what transpired on a ship called Titanic about 84 years ago. From their departure, the love that evolved between Jack and Rose, the tragedy which happened due to an iceberg collision, the death of her Jack, until the rescue of the survivors. The whole story fully remembered and clear to the memory of this old woman had left the world touched and teary-eyed with this wonderful love story.

For more enjoyable romantic movies, you may download directly through your latest gadget and utilize other resources like a rotating case stand or tablet accessories that will make your movie experience more comfortable and pleasurable.

There are many forms of entertainment – listening to music, playing games, watching movies, and reading books. All are my sort of past times whichever comes favourable. Part of my growing up, these hobbies have become valuable habits as they affected me positively especially when I feel down. A personal favourite is indulging in movie breezing. I always give a good book my praise for endowing me with a good story. Now a good book turned into a good movie? I will worship it!

Unfortunately, movies today have become too realistic or if not, too literal for people. Dreaming of the latest gadgets that are now frequenting in today’s society – that is a good type of realism. Those found in books and movies nowadays are not such good ones. For example...

Books written by Nicholas Sparks

His books are being celebrated by millions of readers all over the world because he has the ability to touch anyone’s heart with just his words. This is why most of his books were made into movies. What makes me sad is that it is very seldom that a happy ever after happens in the story which of course is also portrayed in the movie adaptation as way of keeping up with the book. There is a large percentage of people who see the movie goes home heartbroken. The movies are too realistic that the purpose of entertaining people is lost.

Gag Movies

There are movies such as Scary Movie and Twilight which are served their gag counterparts which many people consider entertaining. But they are not. The movies are too exaggerated. Even when parents tried their hardest to prevent their kids from watching, there is no stopping it. Once they do see it, kids will imitate what they see in movies which in most cases result in undesirable events.

R-Rated Movies and Erotic Novels

No matter how much you limit kids from viewing unsolicited videos or books, they always find a way especially with smartphones in hand. The subjects they are not supposed to see at their age are no longer sealed. It’s like a strong dam has been broken down so the water rushed in and there are little ways to nothing that can stop it.

It’s not bad to place idealisms in everyone’s minds once in a while. Idealisms yield positive effects unlike realism when exhibited excessively. And it’s through movies and books that we are greatly exposed to such realistic thoughts. Mixing in a spoonful of ideals is not such a bad idea. If those are ultimately dropped, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny might never be known for later generations. After all, Santa and his good friends all started with ideals, right?

When you first obtained your top-of-the-line smartphone, have you had the feeling of completely being naive how that thing works? Surely what you did then was to read the manual provided by the phone’s manufacturer and one by one you tried to apply all that are stated there. Latest gadgets possess quite complex settings that unfamiliar first-time users cannot easily understand. Perhaps, it will take them days or weeks to get acquainted with their new device.

Like Victoria, Android devices have secrets too. Intrigued by the hidden shortcuts your smartphone is capable of? Whether you have with you an old or a brand new Android phone, you may follow these simple tricks for an easier usability:

1.       Camera launch in one move.

Ever missed that once in a lifetime moment simply because your camera app took seconds before it launched? Arggh! Worry no more. This time, you can unlock your screen and open your camera in one move. In the recently released line-up of Android phones having the latest Android OS, you can be able to customize the lock screen for a fast access. Simply press and hold the central part of the lock screen, rotate your phone to 90 degrees while still holding the lock screen and voila! The camera starts. How to activate this? Go to Settings, Security, Lock Screen Options, and finally change the Camera Quick Access status to on. This is tested for those who own a Samsung SIII. If this technique does not apply to your smartphone, try downloading the WidgetLocker app to place the camera icon onto your lock screen. You may also add other widgets you want to access readily.

2.       Voice recognition functionality.

One of the best typing shortcuts used in an Android phone is the voice recognition feature. This is great for jotting down notes, searching, and formulating a text message. Also, through voice control, you can just shout “Shoot!” after setting up your camera on a tripod and you are ready to take a snapshot with your friends. One tip when using this feature, dictate one sentence at a time so the voice recognition function can decipher and get all the words correctly.

3.       Obtaining a screenshot.

Wanting to grab a screenshot of a web page and save it on your smartphone? Just simultaneously press the Home key and the power button. On other Android phone versions, press the volume clicker down and the power button. If this trick still does not work for you, get the Screenshot It app. This application permits the user to capture whatever it is on your screen display.

4.       Extending battery life and your smartphone’s speed.

Manage the hidden applications running on your phone by means of the Task Manager. Of course we know that the task manager is responsible for taking into account all the programs that are operating in the background which cause your battery to get drained. Without needing to scroll through the menus, open your Task Manager easily by holding down the Home key for a few seconds. Once the list of the currently running apps popped up, release your hold on the key. You can now close all the programs you are not using and that are unnecessary at this point.

Some shortcuts may not function on the Android phone you are using. Anyway, I do hope you enjoy and take time to try these smartphone wonders!

We all have some things that we give so much value to and treasure. Maybe, those things were handed down by our parents or given by people who meant something to us or probably, it is a thing that we ourselves saved money to buy it.

As we graduate from the universities we attended, we keep our hopes up and dream for a good job with a good pay and plan for a lot of things we would want to buy. If we landed on a job that is good enough and earned some moola for working hard, we go out there, be in every shopping mall we can be and indulge ourselves with the things we wanted during our school days.

Mobile phones might be one of the things that we have on our bucket list. If we avail one, we might take care of it as if it were our pet or something. We would shower it with different mobile accessories. Buy different protective covers for it so it will be unharmed from possible damages. We might even buy the best screen protector for it to be safe from unpleasing smirches and stains.

I, myself has mobile phone on my bucket list. When I was still young, I had a thing with mobile phones. My sister and my mom would complain about how I replace my mobile phone often. When I got a job, I told myself to save money so I won’t seek financial assistance from my parents just to have my guilty pleasure. That said, I bought my own mobile phone when I got enough money to avail what I have always yearned for.

As it was handed down to me, I swore to myself that I will take care of it and keep it looking good with mobile accessories, protective covers and put on a nice screen protector on it. Nevertheless, I spent money on all those things. It felt good to have something without the need to ask it from your parents. Unfortunately, I had a run of bad luck. So I only had that phone for weeks. Someone stole it while I was busy having a good time with my friends. Anyway, I had a try to look for it since it means much to me considering the fact that it was the first device that I bought with my hard earned money. But clearly when a mobile phone is lost and someone possibly took it, it will really be hard to find.

As much as possible, we would not want our prized possessions to be lost or be worn out just because of our carelessness. It just doesn’t feel right when something unfortunate happens with that valued possession of yours. Hence, always do your best in taking care of your prized possession particularly those that were brought about by your own sweat and tears.

We all have our favourites – may it be an actor, movie, song, band, book, and author. It’s an unending list of favourites that can’t seem to be exhausted. But let’s get serious. What do girls love the most? There are dresses, shoes, and accessories. Every girl wants to be the princess they’ve always dreamt of becoming regardless of how they were brought up. Now we look at boys. What do they love the most? Cars. They can live through everything as long as they have their cars with them. I don’t blame them especially when yours is the Aston Martin DB5 which was owned and driven by the British spy James Bond. Cars are babies for boys. So as much as they love pampering their ladies, the same is due with their cars.

If by chance you are a woman and a lover of sleek cars, remember to always bring these with you.

1.       Toolkit. Put in there some tools like a screwdriver, a wrench, a pair of pliers, and duct tape. A screwdriver is needed when the car encountered some slight problems that even you can fix without requiring muscle power. A wrench is necessary for tightening some bolts that are loosed. You don’t want to get in an accident just because you ignored a loose bolt. That’s how Final Destination made its mark. Pliers are most vital during tire changing. Also, a girl who can change her own tires is a compulsory especially when you stopped in the middle of the road close to the forest. As for duct tape, we all know how beneficial duct tape has been over the years for its ability to provide security for at least a while.

2.       Work Gloves. We ladies do not love getting dirty. As much as possible, we like keeping our looks as good as they were before changing flat tires. Plus, newly done nails can become a mess with all the grease. Hence, get yourself a pair of work gloves. If there’s a toolkit, there should also be work gloves; it’s as simple as that.

3.       Car Charger. A car charger or any portable charger that is compatible with your car is a must while on the road. There are incidents wherein we forget to charge up our smartphones the night before. With a car charger, your phone can fill up while travelling.

And since you are equipped with a charger in the car, make it easier with a mobile car holder. This will hold your smartphone in place and can also assist you in taking calls in speakerphone. Being prepared is one of women’s greatest talents which is why girls and cars can coexist as much as science and religion have for years.