"Over You" By Daughtry

Daughtry is an American rock band from North Carolina, formed by Chris Daughtry, a previous American Idol contestant Season 3 in the year 2006. Their self-titled debut album was released on November 21, 2006. The disc reached #1 for two non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200, outsold Idol winner Taylor Hicks' debut effort, and sold more than 3 million copies. Their album is also the fastest-selling debut rock album in Soundscan history.

Their new track, “Over You”, can easily carry the band back to the top of the charts. It is in the muscular pop-rock mode that made me playing and singing this song over and over again while working in the office or at home. Its catchy sing-along chorus makes it a great concert song.

This single was co-written by experienced rock singer-songwriter Brian Howes and one of his most recent successes was co-writing all of the songs on the breakthrough album by the Oklahoma-based rock band Hinder. Among those tunes was the massive pop hit single "Lips of an Angel", which is until now one of my favorite songs too. Brian Howes obviously has a way with rock songs about the rough patches of a relationship.

Chris Daughtry was really my favorite during the American Idol contest because of his throaty voice. I don’t know why America did not voted for him to be the champion. Anyway, here’s the lyrics and video of the song that somehow I can relate with.

Daughtry - "Over You"

I

Now that it's all said and done,
I can't believe you were the one
To build me up and tear me down,
Like an old abandoned house.
What you said when you left
Just left me cold and out of breath.
I fell too far, was in way too deep.
Guess I let you get the best of me.

Chorus:

*Well, I never saw it coming.
I should've started running
A long, long time ago.
And I never thought I'd doubt you,
I'm better off without you
More than you, more than you know.

**I'm slowly getting closure.
I guess it's really over.
I'm finally getting better.
And now I'm picking up the pieces.
I'm spending all of these years
Putting my heart back together.

***'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through,
I got over you.

II

You took a hammer to these walls,
Dragged the memories down the hall,
Packed your bags and walked away.
There was nothing I could say.
And when you slammed the front door shut,
A lot of others opened up,
So did my eyes so I could see
That you never were the best for me.

Repeat Chorus
Repeat * (2x), **

Well I'm putting my heart back together,
'Cause I got over you.
Well I got over you.
I got over you.

Repeat ***

"Jumong", A Historical Drama of Goguryeo

Jumong (2006) is a historical drama which aired on South Korea's MBC television network as a 45th Anniversary Special Drama. Originally set to be 60, MBC decided to extend it to 81 episodes (1 hour/episode) due to its popularity. It portrays the life of Jumong Taewang, (founder of the kingdom of Goguryeo). Because few details are found in the historical records on Jumong, much artistic license is taken. Much of the original myths surrounding Jumong have been replaced with more down-to-earth storylines, such as that concerning his birth. It is also considered a major part of the "Korean wave." This film were directed by Geun-hong Kim and Ju-hwan Lee.

- THE CAST -

Song Il-gook as Prince Jumong
Han Hye-jin as Lady Soseono
Kim Seung-soo as Prince Daeso
Jeon Gwang-ryeol as King Geumwa
Oh Yeon-soo as Lady Yoohwa
Kyeon Mi-ri as Queen Wonhu
Kim Byeong-ki as Yeontabal
Jin Hee-kyeong as Sorceress Yeomieul
Lee Jae-yong as Prime Minister Budeukbul
Heo Joon-ho as General Haemosu
Song Ji-hyo as Lady Yesoya
Won Ki-joon as Prince Yeongpo
Bae Soo-bin as Sayong
Park Tam-hee as Lady Yangseolran
Lim So-yeong as Buyeong
Yoon Dong-hwan as Yangjeong
Ahn Jeong-hoon as Mari
Lim Dae-ho as Hyeopbo
Yeo Ho-min as Oyi
Jeong Ho-bin as Wootae
An Young Jun as Yuri

The most surprising time in history has come back 2000 years later, a time when the nation, Goguryeo made China fall down to their knees and when they fought other nations without any fear. Meet a hero bigger than the myth. Alexander, Genghis Khan, we have the hero who overwhelmed his generation and changed history, Jumong! Up to now we have been used to dramas dealing with the history of kings and knights but now we are about to challenge in creating a drama with the birth of a true hero. A name only remembered as a myth. Get ready to meet Jumong, the hero who opened up the skies of the Old Joseon, which was once ours, by fighting thousands and thousands of armies. Meet the love even bigger than the history.‘Love’ seems to be the one common denominator across people of all generations and nations. ‘Love’ gets swept away with the waves of time and also gets hurt with biased views in societies, but it also creates a new kind of history by wrestling against adversity and the trials of time. True love, which is uncommonly seen in history, is re-drawn through the drama of our once forgotten history. Through the wisdom and courage of Korea’s first queen So Seo-no...

This Friday, the last episode will be shown on GMA-TV and it’s so sad that the story is about to end. I have already finished watching this on April 2007 and there are scenes that you’ll be wistful for Jumong. I wanted Jumong to grab and kiss Soseono, and see Hyeppobo and Sayong together. I loved, hated and pitied Geumwa, almost all at the same time. I wanted to see Xuelan get her due. I feel sorry for Haemosu and the years lost, I wept with Jumong when he realized Haemosu was dead. I wanted Yesoya happy but Jumong lived only for 40 years. I waited for Oyi to find Buyeong and marry her. I craved for the continuation of the story of Yuri and how he defeated Daeso.

"True love is when love is Sacrificed"...

"Couple or Trouble", A Romantic Comedy Korean Drama Series

Last week, I just finished watching a romantic comedy Korean drama series that consists 16 episodes which is entitled, “Couple or Trouble”. It was aired in Korea from October 14, 2006 to December 3, 2006 through MBC network. This series was based on a 1987 American movie called Overboard, starred by Goldie Hawn. For Han Ye Seul and Oh Ji Ho, their roles in this series were their first leading roles. It was a big hit in its homeland, South Korea because it collected four MBC Drama Awards in 2006. Han and Oh were named Best Couple. Couple or Trouble took the award for Best Drama and Han Ye Seul took home the Excellence Award. Both Han and Oh were also given the Popularity Award.

The story is about a very rich woman, Anna (Han Ye Seul) who's totally rude, feisty, and audacious American-bred heiress who can never be satisfied. She used to bully everyone, including her husband. When Anna came back to Korea, she was caught up in rain and her car was trapped in a mud. Fortunately, Jang Chul Soo (Oh Ji Ho), who was driving back home, saw and helped her with a price. Jang let Anna stay in his car to lessen the weight and avoid in getting wet from the heavy rain. When she saw some blood in his vehicle with a dead body, she clobbered him with a shovel in his face and left him on the road, unpaid. In fact, she never knew it was a mannequin and a red paint. Jang searched for Anna to collect her debt.

Jang lives with the three children left behind by his late brother, who raised him like a father. He is the owner of Buheung E&C, a small-time construction company whose sign reads, “General Construction, Architecture, and Interior Design Co.” In reality, his company handles such trivial and menial projects as building neighborhood fences, setting up plastic greenhouses, renovating bathrooms and kitchens, and installing heaters.

One day, Anna's favorite cat named Princess lost in the road and by mistake fell into Jang’s hands. Jang had no idea who's the owner of the cat and sold it in small value in a pet shop. Anna suspected Jang for the disappearance of her cat and she was mad when later she found out that her $10,000 cat was sold by Jang in a small amount.

After that scene, they met again when her yacht’s bathroom developed a spot of trouble and employed some tool man; however, she never knew it was Jang who’ll fix the problem. Anna was displeased with Jang's work and they had an argument which makes her throw his tools overboard, kicked him into the water and left him unpaid again. Jang was mad, plotted his revenge and they became sworn enemies.

Later, after a quarrel with Billy Park (Kim Sung Min) that threatens to end their marriage, she herself gets drunkenly pitched overboard and suffered to a bad case of amnesia. Jang found her in the hospital and suddenly learned that she had no idea who she is. Jang plotted his revenge by telling Anna that she was his girlfriend and took her home. His idea was to make Anna his maid to pay off what she owes him for the yacht repairs and the loss of tools in the sea. Even though, Anna had absolutely no idea of what her past was, she had a fuzzy idea that she wasn't that close to him.

While Anna stayed in Jang's house, he made her do all the household chores. But as a rich woman, she never knew about any job and makes a mess on every household duty she was assigned to. Thus, the sequence of comedic errors is lengthy and entertaining.

In the middle of the story, I enjoyed more, watching her crazy moronic mannerisms which is really fun to watch. Believe it or not, she became charming after a while and I thought I needed to have my head check for liking this mean person, Anna.

In the end, they both gave in to their feelings for each other but not before Anna learned what it was like to love and care for others. She learned that wealth is meaningless when you have nobody to share with. After she regains her memory, the scene where she orders black sauce noodles bid to recapture some of the memorable times she shared with Jang at the dilapidated home and the eateries they went to, that brought tears to her eyes. I believe it was a great scene that tugged at the viewer's heartstrings.

Two people as different as night and day, who would never even cross paths under normal circumstances, come together in an outrageous situation and are eventually reborn as a fantastic couple. Once two persons have been stroked by Cupid's arrow of love, there's no turning back. Love was nicely played out when Anna develops some deep feelings for Jang. Of course, what would a show be if there’s no love element in it? Jang also fell for her, even though he resisted the relentless feelings for as long as he could.

The story is quite different because most of Korean drama series often end up in tragedy. I’m sure you’ll enjoy watching this series and will bring a smile to your face as you recall the funny scenes that are sprinkled all over the 16 episodes.

Unofficial DOTA Map 6.49 Version Released

Latest unofficial map version is now available with 4 new items. These are Javelin, Mumm-Ra's Phylactery, Arctic Hauberk and Axe of Prissan. Some recipe, items and hero skills has been changed like:

1. Boots of Speed + Gloves of Haste + Boots of Elvenskin = Power Treads (no need to buy scroll).
2. Naix's first skill has been changed. I think it bashes your opponent, so there's no need for you to buy Basher Item. It also gives magic immunity.

You can download the map through this LINK.

Warning: Since this is an unofficial map version, rumors say that it contains keylogger program, which gives access to your PC and gather all your personal information like password or any personal account data.

Auto Racing Idea

This month of October, I have learned and read so much about auto racing. I never had any knowledge and expertise about it. I had a difficult time gathering an idea about this and I can’t ignore it (sob), it is part of my job. When I was a kid I played Nintendo, Top Gear yet still, I have no idea. I just enjoyed playing it by upgrading accessories in order for me to make it to the top race. Its paint, structure and brand can also be customized, according to your taste.

Auto racing is a sport involving racing automobiles and it is also known as automobile racing, motor racing, or car racing. It began in 1895, and it is now one of the world's most popular sports. It created a lot of different and controversial issues like; global warming, driving violations in public highways, tragic accidents and even deaths. Some had bad experience about this since this is not an easy game. When getting into this sport, you have to be very gifted and courageous to race a four-wheel-drive car down narrow forest roads, and on sideways.

In schools, science teachers encourage their students (the next generation) making such kind of vehicles that uses electricity, sunlight, or hydrogen for the reason that our atmosphere is alarming. I believe that this kind of machinery reduces the rating of air pollution. I remembered “Race the Sun” movie, they used sunlight for their engine to start. However, they encountered some problem when there’s no sunlight yet they finished the race.

Automobile racing has a lot of categories: single-seater (open-wheel) racing, touring car racing, production car racing or showroom stock, one-make or single margue, stock car racing, rally racing, targa, drag racing, sports car racing, off-road racing, kart racing or karting, and modern motor racing. Visit this link if you want to know more about these different types of auto racing I’ve mentioned.

Maphack Dominates DOTA All Stars

Maphack is a cheat used in some real-time strategy games such as Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne which endows a map visibility advantage or enables the player to see further of the map than the game expects them to see. I have known some resource sites of this and they have a lot more cheat programs other than maphack.

The website that provides cheats has been blocked by most of the internet cafés in Davao City for the reason that most DOTA players have been using this maphack program lately. But, do you think this action will solve to stop the map hacking problem? I don’t think so. What if some players will go to other internet cafés just to download the maphack? Even now I still observed several gamers are still using it, especially, those computer geeks. They really loved to play and win the game in a deceitful way.

I tried to prove that I’m right by testing this program. I’ve downloaded and send it to my personal e-mail. Then, I opened it to an internet café which disables maphack sites but damn, it is still working.

It’s getting worse than ever and I don’t know when this maphack will put into an end. I suppose that there are also some other hacking programs exist like, boosting up character’s gold, attributes, etc. When I played DOTA yesterday, I can’t believe that Rylai, the Crystal Maiden, had already some items like dagger, boots of travel and soul booster at level 10.

Isn’t it annoying? Well, there’s nothing we can do about this, until anti-maphack for local area network will be created.

I have made some poll here which will end on the 1st day of year 2008. Cast your vote for maphack if you are in favor on it, or if not, just click anti-maphack.

How Can I Be A Better Song Leader?

How can I be a better song leader? Someone asked me for some advice with this question through the internet. She said that a Youth Jam Event will be held soon in their hometown joined with the other houses of worship. In times of practices and rehearsals together with her praise and worship teammates; misunderstandings and arguments arise. She felt embarrassed in the eyes of God when this happens and feels like she doesn’t want to sing anymore.

I believe that God is tolerating the demon to disrupt their practices or rehearsals. They encounter problems because they don’t accompany each other with bible study and meditation. They spend too much time in sharpening their music to make it perfect rather than contemplating their spiritual growth. I am not into modernized Christian music but I suppose that it is most eminent if God has been delighted rather than the mob.

In my church, I constantly felt down when we have choir rehearsals in Saturdays. The reason is that I am the only one tenor in the choir. Thanks to God for He gave me enough strength to hold on. I never complained to Him because it is truly my desire to serve and praise Him through music. I never noticed that during practices, I can easily familiarize the notes nearly perfect and become independent with my parts.

I don’t care if it does not sound good to the people as long as God had seen my passion to sing for Him, only to please Him. If negative critics, boos, or comments take place; just let them be and ignore them. I don’t want any applause from the audience since it is not them that I served. Be grateful and leave it alone to God. Just do your part and keep on exalting Him through songs because God knows what’s in your heart at all times.

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2)