Baler 2014

We reserved tickets for a bus trip to Baler via Genesis Bus lines. But on the day of the trip, we found out that Genesis issued tickets with the same seat numbers to other people. I can't help but emphasize that they purchased their tickets on the day of the trip. Yet they were given preference, and we, the ones who reserved tickets three days in advance, ended up seating elsewhere.

It appears that this kind of incident happens a lot. It really reflects sloppiness on the Genesis bus company. The same thing can be said of their bus toilet. But having one on a four to six hour non-stop trip is better than having none at all.

If you are in a rush to get to Baler, you can actually get there in four hours. Take the earliest trips in the morning. The only drawback is if you arrive at Baler before six a.m., the museums and other establishments aren't open yet. You'ld have to wait until about nine a.m. before you can enter these. A tricycle driver offered to give us a tour for 500 pesos. And if you want to see the Millennium tree, you'ld have to shell out an additional 300 pesos since that tourist attraction was located farther. With nothing else to do, we decided to go for it.

First destination was a replica of a president's house. We just saw the facade of the house of former Philippine President Manuel Quezon. His car on display was more impressive than his house. But I guess I'm not being fair with this statement since I wasn't able to enter the house yet. The caretaker said that once it was open, you would have to pay 30 pesos for the entrance fee.

Just beside that tourist spot was the Baler Catholic Church. The chandeliers inside were impressive.

Our next destination was Amco beach. It was really very beautiful. The shore was filled with rocks and seashells. And it hardly had any people. Finally, a nice quiet place away from the city. There were several mini islands you could get to and take pictures at. And the beach also had a swimming pool that would be enjoyable for kids. I guess this pool is meant to offset the rocky shore.

We also passed by one of Baler's famous water falls. You could probably climb one third of the way if you're the non-adventurous type like me. If you want to go higher, you might have to cross the water from the falls a few times. Careful! The rocks are slippery and you might fall.

Next, we went to a monument that commemorated the people of Baler's survival of a tidal wave. There was no historical plaque to read off of. So we had to rely on our tricycle driver tour guide.

Beside that monument was a set of stairs which led up Ermita hill. This gives tourists a nice panoramic view of the city of Baler and its coastline. A great place for taking photos.

Baler also has a historical marker which indicates that its inhabitants did something similar to Biak na Bato, where people revolted and tore their Spanish sedulas - or residence certificates - showing they were no longer under Spanish authority.

We also stopped by Baler's fish port. There were plenty of mangroves along that area. With the waves crest and troughs, the younger plants appeared to be waving out of the water. It was awesome. God is truly amazing. His works point to His glory and majesty.

We then decided to go for the Millennium Tree. It took a long time to travel, and that might not be a comfortable ride for some in a cramped tricycle. The tricycle driver said that the tree was about 600 years old. It was a rubber tree, with plenty of vines and ferns hanging off of its branches. Again, a great place for getting selfies and groupies. They were also vendors selling fresh coconuts - which you could have cut for the juice or the meat.

We decided to cut the tour short, but still pay the driver the 800 pesos. He ended up bringing us to Yoli's grill. They served delicious grilled pork chops. The restaurant beside it, Gerry's, supposedly served buffets for 200 pesos per person. But it was jam-packed, so we ended up at Yoli's instead.

Note that a tricycle ride only costs 12 pesos per person for short distances. Their fare matrix is posted on the tricycle itself. But if you are going to ask them to give you a tour, they can charge higher.

After lunch, we checked into R and R travel inn. Their rooms were good for four people. They had twin double deck beds, air-condition, and a nice toilet. But there was no hot water in the shower and no TV. Maybe, the philosophy behind this is to get the traveler to spend more time outside than inside the room. They also served coffee and kakanin for breakfast.

The shores of Baler are known for surfing. As soon as we got near the beach, we were offered a 1-hour surfing lesson for 350 pesos. If you already knew how to surf, and only wanted to rent the surf board, you could rent it for 200 pesos. One of my friends went for it, and within the hour, he was able to stand on the board and coast a little maybe four or six times. Not bad for a first timer.

The shoreline was also very sandy - in contrast to the Amco shoreline - and was a great place to walk barefoot or build sandcastles at.

The waves of Baler are stronger than most other beaches I have been to. And I thought this was surprising since the shore was very shallow - maybe knee to waist deep only, even in the area where the people were being taught how to surf. I thought you needed deep waters to learn how to surf, but this was not the case. And it was the wind that gave the waves its strength, according to a local.

There were several nice places to eat at along the shoreline. We opted for Baler-view hotel's restaurant. They have great sandwiches and calamaris.

You could also try out food from a yellow Volkswagen grill. Pretty novel for a marketing strategy.

And that would be the highlights of my trip to Baler.

I'm a bit surprised that throughout all this time, there aren't many well know eating establishments along the beach or even at the town. No McDonald's or Pizza Hut. No Starbucks or Yellow Cab. Boracay appears to be more progressive in this aspect. But maybe this is also good for Baler. Instead of giving the profits to the multinationals, it allows their locals to come up with world class services that would benefit the town.

Big Daddy Weave - Without You Chords

Great song by Big Daddy Weave. Here's my attempt at its chords. Enjoy!

Stanza Pattern

C#       C#sus2         C#       C#sus2       

Would we hear the sound
C#       C#sus2         C#       C#sus2

Of breathing in the dark

F#                                F#m7 (G#m7 - A - B)
Where would be life's spark
C#       C#sus2         C#       C#sus2

Without You

Repeat Stanza Pattern
Would the birds ever sing
Would the wind move through the trees
Could I touch the grass so green
Under this big sky so blue
Without You

Chorus

Ebm                         Ebsus  
And the sun doesn't shine
F#                            F#m7

And my world stops spinnin' round
C#       C#sus2         C#       C#sus2

Without You
Ebm                         Ebsus

Tell me where else could I ever find
F#                            F#m7

The peace that floods this heart of mine
C#       C#sus2         C#       C#sus2

Without You

Repeat Stanza Pattern
Who could fill the emptiness inside
Who would ease the pain in my broken heart
Who would come in and abide
Promise never to depart
Without You

Bridge
C#       C#sus2
I can't live without You
Ebm                         Ebsus

I don't want to try to

F#                   F#m7                  
Live one more moment 

C#       C#sus2

Without You
C#
Without You
Ebm
Without You
F#
Without You
C#
Without You

Epic Cards Battle v2.10 Crafting System

Version 2.10 of Epic Cards Battle was released recently and players are given another opportunity to gain higher rarity cards through the Crafting system. Five cards of the same rarity and faction can be combined in the hopes of successfully creating a card of the next level of rarity. Five one star cards will result in a two star card.

So I'll share what I have been able to come up with so far.

1 apprentice swordsman + 1 silent archer + 3 dual daggers rogue = 1 haste
1 dryad + 1 harpee + 3 elf sentry = 1 tauren axe
2 hero + 3 sweety pirates = 1 kendoka girl
1 blade shield + 1 the crusader + 3 silver knight = 1 frost trap
1 kobold + 1 bear warrior + 3 harpy = 1 meteor
2 blessing of mother earth + 3 overpower = 1 centaur warrior
2 sweety pirate + 3 amplifier = 1 kitty girl
3 sweaty pirate + 2 amplifier = 1 kendoka girl
1 skeleton archer + 1 dire wolf + 3 cyclops = 1 queen of spiders
3 overpower + 2 blessing of the mother earth = 1 pit trap
3 slashing strike + 2 apprentice swordsman = 1 blade shield
3 queen of spiders + 1 troll + 1 black widow = 1 skeleton king
3 shadow assault + 2 dire wolf = 1 hellhounds
3 silent archer + 1  dual daggers rogue + 1 ice elemental = 1 silver knight
3 Centaur warrior + 1 Treant + 1 Tauren Axe = 1 Master Druid


I don't know if these results are repeatable since I didn't have the same set of cards to reproduce the same results. If it is, please note it in your comments below. And I'm hoping other players will post their results in the comments below.

How to Add More Voices for Text-to-Speech In Windows 7 32-bit

Warning: The following steps involve editing the registry. Continue at your own risk.

This tutorial is based on Voran's guide found here. The steps he outlines is for Windows 7 64-bit. If you have a 32-bit system, then follow the instructions below. Also, please note that I was only able to make this work with US voices when used with Microsoft Word. For an excellent tutorial on how to enable text-to-speech in Word, watch this video.

Now, on with the steps.

1. Download the SpeechPlatformRuntime.msi file for x86 systems from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=27225

2. Just double-click the file and follow the installation instructions.
3. Download the two US voices Helen and ZiraPro from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=27224 . As I said earlier, these were the only voices I got to work.

I tried the procedure with GB_Hazel and CA_Heather but no joy. If you get these voices to work, please leave a link or comment below on how you were able to make these work.

4. Again, just double click each .msi installer for each voice and follow the installation instructions.
5. Now it is time to edit the registry. Run regedit. Initially, if you go under Under - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Speech\Voices
you should only see Microsoft's default voice Anna. While if you look under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Speech Server\v11.0\Voices
you should see the two voices you installed (Helen and ZiraPro). If you're wondering why my image has four voices, refer to my comments above.

Our goal is to edit the registry so that the image above becomes like the following image

 
6. To do that, right click the "Tokens" folder under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Speech Server\v11.0\Voices
and choose Export. Save this file to your desktop as voices1.reg so it will be easy to find later.

7. Open voices1.reg in Notepad. Then do a Find-and-replace. Enter \Speech Server\v11.0\ into the "Find What" field and enter \Speech\ into the "Replace With" field. Click "Replace All". Then save the file. Note, after you save the file, its icon might change into a notepad icon, meaning you might have saved it as a text file instead of a registry file. If this happens, make sure you save the file with a .reg extension instead of a .txt. If the file still won't open using the registry editor, try right-clicking it and opening using regedit.

8. Double click the newly saved voices1 registry file. You will then receive a registry warning prompt. Click Yes.
9. To check if you were successful, go to Control Panel > Ease of Access > Speech Recognition > Text to Speech.

10. You should now be able to select additional voices (Helen or ZiraPro) aside from Microsoft Anna in the dropdown box. You can then press on Preview Voice to check if they sound right. If you're satisfied with the voice, then click on OK. Now, you should be able to use the new voice to read portions of your word document. Really useful in proofreading, and hopefully less annoying than Anna.

I hope this tutorial was able to help you out. Feel free to leave me feedback below.

Addendum: I tried changing the voices in Narrator and it was able to recognize GB Hazel and CA Heather. But MS Word still wouldn't recognize these two non-US voices. Again, if you are able to come up with a solution to this issue, please let me know. Thanks.

Clash of Clans: Hearbroken or a Proposal?

The image above, to me, seemed so funny, I just had to write about it. Three theories come to mind.

First, the player who made this is madly in love. He (or she) is so in love that he has ceased to be rational and has forgotten about the basic principle of protecting one's resources in Clash of Clans using the walls. Instead, he has used the walls to declare his undying love for the other person. He is probably in love with a fellow Clash of Clans player, a clan mate perhaps. Maybe they met through Clash of Clans and this is the most memorable way for him to tell the other person about his love. Maybe it is a marriage proposal, or maybe a be my partner proposal.

The second theory is that the two players are already in love. But they are in rough patch. And this is one of the player's way of saying sorry. He's probably a Clash of Clan addict and gives the game more time and attention rather than his partner. So, in order to say "Sorry" and to make amends, he sacrifices his well built town, allowing any other player, even novices of the game, to completely obliterate it because of poorly constructed defenses.

Finally, the last theory still revolves around lovers. But they have broken up, and it is a complete split up. The other person refuses to get back with the player who made the town set up. He is completely heart broken. In utter frustration, he allows other players to trample on his town in the same way that his partner trampled with his heart.

I rarely see poorly made defenses on Clash of Clan. I've seen people who use the walls artistically. I've even seen a bat symbol reminiscent of the logo used in the Christian Bale movies. But I haven't seen a player do what has been done in the image above. Out of the three theories, I probably like the one where the player quits Clash of Clans for good to devote more time and attention to his girlfriend or wife. So he leaves the game completely, and this town setup is his proof for his loved one that she is more important to him.

Globe Acquisition of Bayantel, A Worsening of Service

Bayantel used to at least send technicians within a promised period of 24 hours. Now that Globe Telecom has acquired it, they are instilling worst practices in order to minimize on expenses. And that probably includes downsizing on manpower, and using technology that is prone to failure.

This year alone, I've had to deal with internet connection failures for the past three months, and a no dial tone issue this month. Instead of receiving service, all I get are sloppy excuses and insincere apologies. "We are upgrading our services", "Sorry for the inconvenience".

The no dial tone issue is still unresolved after six days, and Bayantel won't even give us the courtesy of sending a technician. "Your phone is ringing whenever we call it." That doesn't mean that the phone works. I've tried calling our number with the unit disconnected and it is still ringing. Shouldn't you as a service provider verify that you can actually talk with the customer before closing the case?

So for people who are thinking of applying for a Bayantel connection, think twice. Better yet, just find a different internet and phone service provider. If you don't believe me, just look at all the customer complaints on Bayantel's Twitter page. ( @askbayan )

And as for you, Bayantel, don't be sorry. Just refund the payment for the days when we can't avail of the services we paid for.

Post Script: It took Bayantel 11 days to fix the issue.

Hexagon Abstract Art

Here are some of my attempts at abstract art.

Diversity

Global Warming

Arctic Sub

Do all Bible books have a 3:16?

The short answer is no. You can check below to see which books have a chapter 3 and verse 16.

Old Testament (Only 28 out of 39 books)

Genesis 3:16
16 Then God said to the woman,

“I will cause you to have much trouble
when you are pregnant.
And when you give birth to children,
you will have much pain.
You will want your husband very much,
but he will rule over you.”


Exodus 3:16
16 “Now go and call together the elders of the people. Tell
them that Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—appeared to you. Give them this
message from me: ‘I have been watching over you and have seen
what people in Egypt have done to you.


Leviticus 3:16

16 Then the priest will bring that food as a sweet-smelling
gift to the Lord. The fat belongs to the Lord.


Numbers 3:16

16 So Moses obeyed the Lord. He counted them all. (Levites
when the Lord appointed them as his special servants)


Deuteronomy 3:16

16 And to the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad, I gave the
land that begins at Gilead and goes from the Arnon Valley to
the Jabbok River. The middle of the valley is one border. The
Jabbok River is the border for the Ammonites.


Joshua 3:16

16 immediately the water stopped flowing and piled up like a
wall. The water piled up high a long way up the river—all the
way to Adam (a town near Zarethan). And the water flowing down
to the sea of Arabah (the Dead Sea) was completely cut off.
The people crossed the river near Jericho.

Judges 3:16

16 Ehud made himself a sword with two sharp edges that was
about 12 inches long. He tied the sword to his right thigh and
hid it under his uniform.


Ruth 3:16

16 Ruth went to the home of her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi
went to the door and asked, “Who’s there?”
Ruth went in telling Naomi everything that Boaz did for her.


1 Samuel 3:16

16 But Eli said to Samuel, “Samuel, my son.”
Samuel answered, “Yes, sir.”
(Samuel was about to tell Eli of the Lord's judgement on him
and his sons)


2 Samuel 3:16

16 Michal’s husband, Paltiel, followed them, crying all the
way to Bahurim. Finally, Abner said to him, “Go back home.” So
Paltiel went back home.

(David reclaims his wife Michal who was given to Paltiel)


1 Kings 3:16

Proof of Solomon’s Wisdom

16 One day two prostitutes came to Solomon and stood before
the king.

(Story of the baby and two mothers)


2 Kings 3:16

16 Then Elisha said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig holes
in the valley.’

(The Lord's provision for the Israelites)

1 Chronicles 3:16

16 Jehoiakim’s sons were Jehoiachin, his son, and Zedekiah,
his son.

(Rulers who did evil in the sight of the Lord)

2 Chronicles 3:16

16 He made chains in a necklace and put them on the tops of
the columns. He made 100 pomegranates and put them on the
chains.

(Solomon builds the Lord's temple)

Ezra has no 3:16 verse

Nehemiah 3:16

16 Nehemiah son of Azbuk repaired the next section. This
Nehemiah was the governor of half the district of Beth Zur. He
made repairs up to a place that is across from the tombs of
David. And he worked as far as the man-made pool and the House
of Heroes.

(Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem)

Esther has no 3:16 verse

Job 3:16

16 Why wasn’t I a child who died at birth
and was put in the ground?
I wish I had been buried like a baby
who never saw the light of day.

Psalm has no 3:16 verse

Proverbs 3:16

16 With her right hand, Wisdom offers long life—with the other
hand, riches and honor.

Ecclesiastes 3:16

16 I also saw these things in this life: I saw that the courts
should be filled with goodness and fairness, but there is evil
there now.

Song of Solomon has no 3:16 verse


Isaiah 3:16

16 The Lord says, “The women in Zion have become very proud.
They walk around with their heads in the air, acting like they
are better than other people. They flirt with their eyes and
make tinkling sounds with their ankle bracelets as they take
their quick little steps.”

(The Lord pronounces judgement on his people)


Jeremiah 3:16

16 In those days there will be many of you in the land.” This
message is from the Lord.

“At that time people will never again say, ‘I remember the
days when we had the Box of the Lord’s Agreement.’ They will
not even think about the Holy Box anymore. They will not even
remember or miss it. They will never make another Holy Box.

Lamentations 3:16

16 He pushed my teeth into rocky ground.
He pushed me into the dirt.

(Crying out to the Lord for rescue against enemies)

Ezekiel 3:16

The Watchman of Israel

16 After seven days, the word of the Lord came to me. He said,
(The Lord was appointing Ezekiel as a watchman to warn Israel
about their sins)

Daniel 3:16

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king,
“Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to explain these things to you.
(Just before being thrown into the fiery furnace)

Hosea has no 3:16 verse

Joel 3:16

16 The Lord God will shout from Zion.
He will shout from Jerusalem,
and the sky and the earth will shake.
But the Lord God will be a safe place for his people.
He will be a place of safety for the people of Israel.

Amos has no 3:16 verse

Obadiah has no 3:16 verse

Jonah has no 3:16 verse

Micah has no 3:16 verse

Nahum 3:16

16 You have many traders who go places and buy things. They
are as many as the stars in the sky. They are like locusts
that come and eat until everything is gone and then leave.

(Bad news for Nineveh)

Habakkuk 3:16

16 My whole body shook when I heard the story.
My lips trembled.
I felt weak deep down in my bones
and stood there shaking.
But I will wait patiently for destruction to come to those who
attack us.

(Habakkuk's prayer)


Zephaniah 3:16

16 At that time Jerusalem will be told,
“Be strong, don’t be afraid!

Haggai has no 3:16 verse

Zechariah has no 3:16 verse

Malachi 3:16

16 Then the Lord’s followers spoke with each other, and the
Lord listened to them. There is a book in front of him. In
that book are the names of his followers. They are the people
who honor the Lord’s name.

 
New Testament (Only 21 out of 27 books)
Matthew 3:16

16 So Jesus was baptized. As soon as he came up out of the
water, the sky opened, and he saw God’s Spirit coming down on
him like a dove.


Mark 3:16

16 These are the names of the twelve men Jesus chose:
Simon (the one Jesus named Peter),


Luke 3:16

16 John’s answer to this was, “I baptize you in water, but
there is someone coming later who is able to do more than I
can. I am not good enough to be the slave who unties his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with
fire.


John 3:16

16 Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but
have eternal life.

Acts 3:16

16 “This crippled man was healed because we trusted in Jesus.
It was Jesus’ power that made him well. You can see this man,
and you know him. He was made completely well because of faith
in Jesus. You all saw it happen!


Romans 3:16
16 Everywhere they go they cause trouble and ruin.
(The whole world is under God's judgement because no one can
be made right with God by following the law)


1 Corinthians 3:16

16 You should know that you yourselves are God’s temple. God’s
Spirit lives in you.


2 Corinthians 3:16

16 But when someone changes and follows the Lord, that
covering is taken away.

(The agreement with Christ has greater glory than the Law)

Galatians 3:16

16 God made promises to Abraham and his Descendant. The
Scripture does not say, “and to your descendants.” That would
mean many people. But it says, “and to your Descendant.” That
means only one, and that one is Christ.


Ephesians 3:16

16 I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit.


Philippians 3:16

16 But we should continue following the truth we already have.
(A call to press forward after the goal)


Colossians 3:16

16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1 Thessalonians has no 3:16 verse

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Final Words
16 We pray that the Lord of peace will give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.

1 Timothy 3:16

16 Without a doubt, the secret of our life of worship is great:
Christ was shown to us in human form;
    the Spirit proved that he was right;
he was seen by angels.
    The message about him was told to the nations;
people in the world believed in him;
    he was taken up to heaven in glory.


2 Timothy 3:16
16 All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live.

Titus has no 3:16 verse

Philemon has no 3:16 verse

Hebrews 3:16
16 Who were those who heard God’s voice and turned against him? It was all the people Moses led out of Egypt.

James 3:16
16 Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil.

1 Peter 3:16
16 But answer them in a gentle way with respect. Keep your conscience clear. Then people will see the good way you live as followers of Christ, and those who say bad things about you will be ashamed of what they said.

2 Peter 3:16
16 That’s what he says in all his letters when he writes about these things. There are parts of his letters that are hard to understand, and some people give a wrong meaning to them. These people are ignorant and weak in faith. They also give wrong meanings to the other Scriptures. But they are destroying themselves by doing that.

(Peter on Paul's letters to believers)

1 John 3:16
16 This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for each other as brothers and sisters.

2 John has no 3:16 verse

3 John has no 3:16 verse

Jude has no 3:16 verse

Revelation 3:16
16 But you are only warm—not hot, not cold. So I am ready to spit you out of my mouth.
(Jesus' letter to the Church in Laodicea)

Epic Cards Battle v2.0

Version 2.0 of Epic Cards Battle was rolled out yesterday. Players are in for a treat since there are some new cards available that will spice up their stale decks. Here are just some of the cards that I was able to check out.

Amplifier is the Overpower / Slashing Strike / Shadow Assault for cards with Special Attack. Monk users can now boost their card's attack to up to 200% given its innate ability and with the help of this card.

Is your opponent always beating you to the punch? Why not add in this card to your deck which might guarantee that your units attack first (that is if your units have a low base cooldown - no point using this on Treant). Art has some Quicksilver influence. This card can be easily obtained by beating Quest 8-8 in Normal mode. And speaking of Quests, v2.0 comes with 5 additional ones. This was kind of disappointing. I was hoping there would be more quests and opportunities to get more cards.

When I first encountered Panda Man in the new quest, I thought it was pretty strong. But once it is weakened, his attack goes down. Boost him with HP adding cards.

Priest is one of the cards to watch out for IMHO in this expansion. (I think they should have called the card Nun) She heals adjacent units whenever she attacks. Want to test her out in a Succubus deck.

Are you tired of those Tauren Axe and Kitty Girl decks? Perhaps you can try to counter them with White Tiger Taoist since he has an edge against cards with Chaos Attack Type.

I don't know if the invite code still works since this can no longer be found in the rewards menu. But in case you are starting out, and you see an option to place in an invite code, you can try 844cb. Hopefully, you'll get a three star card.

The Gallery no longer shows all available cards in this game. It only shows the cards you own, and what's sad is that you have to use your coins in order to unlock them and see their stats and abilities. (Just go to "My Cards" to save money).

So if your an Epic Cards Battle Player, this new update should be fun for you and should renew your interest in the game. I hope that in the future, the developers of this game will allow free players (those who spend time instead of money) a more realistic means of getting access to 4 star and 5 star cards. Kudos to the makers of this game. I really enjoy the idea of designing a simple deck and just observing (instead of actively making decisions in real-time) how it fares against other decks. I hope that this game lasts for many years. As long as the devs make sure that there are frequent events and infusions of new cards, even if its just a few, it should prevent the fan base from losing interest. And that is important in keeping a game relevant.

P.S. For the next update, why don't you change the Epic Cards Battle logo. It's a piece of _ _ _ _!

Addendum:

The invite code reward is back. Again, you can use 844cb if you want.

Great God Acoustic Chords

Heard this song in church last Sunday and was really blessed.

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, Glory to the God of Israel!!!

Wanted to share what I think the chords would be if you were playing it on an acoustic guitar. May you enjoy and be blessed as well! All glory and honor to God.

Great God
by Israel Houghton and Ricardo Sanchez

Intro:

B  F#m7/B (Just bar the 2nd fret) (Alternating)

Stanza:

B
Great are your ways
E
Great are your works
B                     E
Great are you Lord in all the earth
B
Great is your power
E
Great is your strength
A                      F#7
Great are you Lord and greatly to be praised

Pre-Chorus:
E
Your greatness
F#7         E                  F#7 - F#7sus - F#7
Your famous name is exalted in all the earth

Chorus:
B              C#m7            
GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH
    B/D# (or G#m7)         A                  
GLORY TO THE GOD OF ISRAEL
   B              C#m7
GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH
  A                E
ALL THE EARTH WILL SEE
                 B
THAT YOU'RE A GREAT GOD

Transition:

B C#m7 B/D# F#7 (Back to Stanza Pattern) 

Bridge:
B                            F#m7/B
WE WON'T STOP TILL THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS
B                              F#m7/B
WE WON'T STOP TILL THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS
B                              F#m7/B
WE WON'T STOP TILL THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS
A                        E/D# (or E)      D
THAT YOU'RE A GREAT GOD, GREAT GOD OH OH 

End with B 

Epic Cards Battle Invite Code

Need an Epic Cards Battle invite code? No problem. Use 844cb and you'll hopefully get a three star card. Happy gaming!

Clash of Clans

Clash of Clans in my opinion is the best game on Android to date! It reminds me a lot about Ikariam and perhaps, this is what Ikariam would have looked like if it were a 3D game. Similar elements are present. You have to collect resources. You get to build different types of structures with different functions. You get to amass armies to fight other players.

But Clash of Clans is way better when it comes to the fights. Unlike Ikariam where the battle is left to the player's imagination, in Clash of Clans, you see the units fighting in real time. It's always funny when a unit is flung off the screen with a springboard defense, and exhilarating when you see your offensive troops break through a wall.

The game is also better when it comes to leveling up each structure or unit. I really look forward to the little changes in detail of a building per level. Ikariam used to do this for its buildings every five levels. Clash does it even for its army units.

And just like any other strategy game, the toughest part is reaching the higher levels where the time you have to wait to accumulate resources take like forever. And if you don't want to wait, you can always pay. No wonder, one of the news articles I read about this game reports that it rakes in about 2 million dollars a day just for in-app purchases. The developer states that if you build a good product, people won't mind paying for it.

The game is so good and it has replaced my allotted gaming time for other leisurely activities. Check it out!!! And hopefully, I'll battle with your troops soon!

The Flash Pilot Episode 2014

Spoiler Alert: Read at your own risk

STAR Labs has created a particle accelerator similar to CERN's large hadron collider. According to Barry Allen, CSI for Keystone City, this will allow mankind to increase their knowledge from a small dot to a huge circle. But because of an unknown reason, the particle accelerator explodes, creating meta humans all across the city. (Similar to the way Smallville's meteor shower caused many people to become part of the Wall of Wierd). The explosion also places Barry Allen in a coma.

But the people at STAR Labs help him out, and after 9 months, he wakes up and discovers he has super speed. There are times when everything else around him appears to be moving very slow, but a scientist explains that he is actually the one moving very fast.

The show goes on with Barry Allen testing his speed limits, fighting a villain (one of the meta humans) who can create a tornado, and eventually, saving the city from disaster.

After almost two decades, the Flash has his own TV Series once again. (At least I hope he does, cause you never know with the rate producers are pulling the plug on shows these days.) Grant Gustin stars as the Flash and Stephen Amel, the Arrow, even shows up on the show to provide some mentoring. (Actually, Flash runs all the way to Starling City)

Tom Cavanaugh, star of the TV show Ed, might be this show's villain. Barry Allen seems to recall a streaking red and yellow blur during his childhood which caused the death of his mother. Flash fans know that Barry Allen eventually becomes part of the speed force which grants Barry Allen his powers via the lightning that strikes him. So one theory is that, the speed force was the blur, perhaps trying to bestow powers on Barry at such an early age.

But the show also gives a glimpse of the red and yellow blur having a head similar to the Flash, but with a yellow color. That reminds me of Dr. Zoom, the "evil Flash". Before Dr. Zoom became evil, he used to be a Flash fan. He idolized the Flash so much that he wanted to become like him. And since he was from the future, where it is easier to recreate the same conditions that granted the Flash powers, he modifies his genetic make up so that he also gains super speed, then travels back in time only to discover that Barry Allen kills him as Dr. Zoom, the only villain the Flash is ever forced to kill. This turns him into the evil villain he eventually becomes. (Timeline paradox fans will probably enjoy this). And the show ends with Tom Cavanaugh standing up from his wheelchair, and looking at a newspaper article in the future where the Flash has disappeared. So I'm guessing that Tom is still Dr. Zoom before he becomes evil and he has traveled back in time to find out what happened to the Flash.

CW, please don't mess this TV Series up. I hope that this show will be able to reach 3 seasons at least. Smallville explored a lot of Superman lore, and I expect this series to do the same for the Flash - discovering the different things he can do with super speed - vibration through solid objects, multiplication (ala multiple man), time travel, etc. - team ups with Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Batman, Superman - and hopefully, we also get to see the other Flashes and Kid Flashes (Wally West, Impulse, etc.)

With so many DC projects in the pipeline (Gotham seems interesting, too), comic book fans are in for a treat this year.

The San Antonio Spurs are the 2014 NBA Champions

Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs who won the 2014 NBA Championship against the Maimi Heat. The Spurs won game 5  and closed out the series at 4-1, where they only lost during game 2. Since that game, the Spurs have never looked back.

It is interesting to note that while Miami was focused on its Big Three, the Spurs win is attributed not to their individual players, but to their performance as a team composed of players from different countries all over the world.

Another surprising aspect of this series is that the players of the Spurs - Duncan, Ginobilli, and Parker - were written off as old and aging by most of the world's basketball fans, including myself. But they proved their critics wrong. And the Spurs coaching staff did well to surround the Spurs core with good supporting players that can complement them.

Patty Mills performance is worth mentioning too. There was a stint in the game where he shot several three pointers and scored 14 points in a span of 9 minutes. This player was once the leading scorer for the Australian team. The boost he gave the Spurs when Tony Parker was struggling with his scoring during the 1st half allowed the Spurs to build up a big lead from which the Miami Heat could no longer recover from.

Kawhi Leonard was awarded the Finals MVP. He was asked why he got the award when the Spurs had a big three. But instead of focusing on his strengths and what he did for his team, he humbly thanked his family and God for the victory.

Street Fighter Assassin's Fist Movie

Warning: Possible spoilers

Was able to watch the Street Fighter Assassin's Fist movie last night. This movie will start off the planned Street Fighter TV series. This movie tells how Ryu and Ken meet for the first time, and how they end up being trained by their master, Gouken.

The movie also explores the story of Gouken and his brother Goki. Goki, eventually will become Akuma, who I believe will be the final enemy in the series.

The actor who plays Ken really did a good job. He should have maintained the long hair instead of cutting it off in the end. He was way more bad ass looking sporting the pony tail.

Too bad the actor playing Ryu reminds me of Cho in the Mentalist. I don't know if this was the reason why I couldn't believe in his Ryu portrayal. But I guess Ken will be the main hero in this series, preventing Ryu from embracing the dark side.

I wish they could have found a Gouken who looked like the character in Street Fighter IV for Playstation 3. If they could get Akuma right, they should have gotten Gouken right. (Unless Gouken will undergo some kind of transformation that will allow him to look like the video game version).

I hope the TV series will show the duo encountering a street fighter character every episode. Can't wait for Ryu and Ken to fight Guile, Chun-li, E. Honda, Blanka, Zangief, Vega, Balrog, Sagat, and M. Bison. There are plenty of Street Fighter character histories to explore. Each episode of the series could probably do that. And with new characters like Gen, Rose, Cammy, Sakura, T. Hawk, and many more, this series should last for 3 seasons at least, assuming they explore one character per season, and each season lasts about 10 episodes.

I'm still wondering if Gen was the old man who gave Ryu to Gouken.

Props to the Mega Man bit, reminding us of Street Fighter's relationship with CAPCOM. Also to Ken's pissed off comment about Dan, being the first student of Gouken. Wonder if we will see him in the series, and whether or not he will be as funny as his video game persona.

If the visual artists can do a great job with the hadoken animation, they can also work on Ken's flaming shoryuken.

Really excited about this series and hope it doesn't disappoint the Street Fighter fans worldwide.

   

Paramore That's What You Get Guitar Chords

After watching Jenna Irene and Paramore on the latest season of American Idol, I've been listening to a lot of Paramore songs lately. Here's a song I've enjoyed, especially after listening to Paramore's acoustic version. Hope you enjoy it.

Paramore - That's What You Get

Standard Tuning

Intro / Stanza Pattern
G# - G# - Bb - Cm (Repeat)
Eb Ebsus Eb (transition to chorus)

Chorus
G# - Eb - Cm - Bb
G# - Eb - Bb (Bbsus Bb)
Cm - Bb - Cm - Bb
G# - Eb - Bb - Bb

Repeat Intro - Stanza - Chorus

All This Love by Greg Cagle and Robyn Springer

This acoustic rendition of El Debarge's All This Love was simply mind-blowing. I wish I could play the guitar as good as Greg Cagle. And Robyn Springer was excellent on vocals too.

Caleb Johnson - As Long As You Love Me Lyrics

Here's what I could get from Caleb Johnson's performance from American Idol. Hope it's accurate enough, but corrections are welcome. Just post them in the comments section below if you have any. Enjoy!

And before I forget, congrats to the winner of American Idol Season 13 - Caleb Johnson. You rock man! Wish you and Jack Black would duet in the future!

Stanza:
We were looking for love in all the same places
Infected with the same disease
In a room full of guys with handsome faces
(Well) We couldn't find a moment to seize

(backup vocals) Always wanted to be closer
I guess that's just the way it goes
(backup vocals) Always / (You were) looking for an answer
When all the time
It was right here under your nose

Chorus:
(But) As long as you love me
You don't always have to say I'm cool.
Yeah
As long as you love me,
We don't have to be together 24/7.
As long as you love me,
I'm in heaven
Whoa / Yeah yeah

Bridge:
You will never have a reason
To tell me that we're through
I will ever ask you not to do what you wanna do
Even if you never show me what I mean to you

Citipointe Live Dominion Guitar Chords

 Here's a cool duet by Citipointe Live. I've modified it a bit, but I hope the chords are easier for you. Enjoy!

(Capo on the 3rd fret optional)

Intro:
Em - D - CM7

Verse 1:
Em - Bm7 - CM7
Sanctified by Your Grace
Em - Bm7 - CM7
Was once wounded but now You've removed all stains
Em - Bm7 - CM7
Cleansing me with tender mercy
Em - Bm7 - CM7
I will abide in You

Verse 2:
Em - Bm7 - CM7
There is no one that is like You
Em - Bm7 - CM7
Pure is this love You've bestowed upon us
Em - Bm7 - CM7
It is our privilege to worship
Em - Bm7 - CM7
You oh Mighty God

Pre-Chorus 1:
Am7 - G - CM7
All of the earth is Yours
Em - D - CM7
You're our delight, You are Lord of all

Chorus:
G - CM7 - Em - Bm7 - CM7
You have the dominion over all the earth
Em - D - CM7 - D - CM7
And with all that's within me, I will bless You Lord

Instrumental 1:
Em - D - CM7
We worship tonight oh Lord
Em - D - CM7
We love You, We love You

Verse 1:
Em - Bm7 - CM7
Sanctified by Your Grace
Em - Bm7 - CM7
Was once wounded but now You've removed all stains
Em - Bm7 - CM7
Cleansing me with tender mercy
Em - Bm7 - CM7
I will abide in You

Pre-Chorus 2:
Am7 - G - CM7
All of the earth is Yours
Em - D - CM7
You are Alpha and Omega
Am7 - G - CM7
All of the earth is Yours
Em - D - CM7
You're our delight, You are Lord of all

Chorus:
G - CM7 - Em - Bm7 - CM7
You have the dominion over all the earth
Em - D - CM7 - D - CM7
And with all that's within me, I will bless You Lord

Instrumental 2:
CM7
I will bless You Lord
CM7
I will lift my voice to worship You
CM7
I will love You
CM7
I will love You

Bridge:
CM7 - D - Em
You have rescued me
CM7 - D - Em
You have rescued me
CM7 - D - G
You took a wretch like this
CM7 - D
You loved me, and You saved me

CM7 - D - Em
You have rescued me
CM7 - D - Em
You have rescued me
CM7 - D - G
You took a wretch like this
CM7 - D
You loved me, and You saved me

(female vocals joins in)
CM7 - D - Em
You have rescued me
CM7 - D - Em
You have rescued me
CM7 - D - G
You took a wretch like this
CM7 - D
You loved me, and You saved me

CM7 - D - Em
You have rescued me
CM7 - D - Em
You have rescued me
CM7 - D - G
You took a wretch like this
CM7 - D
You loved me, and You saved me

Chorus:
G - CM7 - Em - Bm7 - CM7
You have the dominion over all the earth
Em - D - CM7 - D - CM7
And with all that's within me, I will bless You Lord
CM7 - D - CM7
I will bless You Lord
CM7 - D - CM7
I will bless You Lord

CM7 (fade)

Bayantel Frequent Disconnectons 2014

After a terrible time with Bayantel last November 2013 dealing with frequent disconnections that took 8 service calls before finally being resolved by a physical port re-assignment or port re-blocking, Bayantel is at it again. But this time, they have a new excuse for the disconnections besides having a congested network. According to them, since they have been acquired by Globe Telecommunications, the "upgrades" to their system is the cause of the frequent disconnections.

If these "upgrades" are improvements, then why is the service becoming worse instead of better. And even the personnel making service calls are less accommodating. When I suggested that hardware replacement might resolve the issue, they said that they won't replace it since they believe that the Globe improvements are causing this issue.

So, what are customers supposed to do at this point? Apparently, the new management is saying, it's either you just take whatever we're willing to give you, or go to the only other competition which has far worse service than we have (PLDT). With Globe's acquisition of Bayantel, there are fewer internet service providers competing. And when there is hardly any competition, then service providers don't really need to provide excellent service. "Acceptable" levels are enough. And as long as consumers tolerate this idea, then Philippine ISPs will remain sub-standard compared to global service providers.

2014 Update to Firefox 29.0 Causes Black Screen

Firefox forced me to update today. After I did, lo and behold, the tabs are now nicely S-shaped. And there's this new menu forcing me to relearn how to use this browser. But that's not what I hate about this update.

I hate that the update caused a black screen while I was on the Tiberium alliances site. And Firefox did not recover at all. I waited for roughly two hours hoping it would recover. But after two hours of waiting, I had to do a hard shutdown (holding down the power button of your computer for about five seconds until it switches off) which is really uncool. Hard shutdowns can damage your hardware. After doing a hard shutdown, I entered Safe Mode before rebooting into Normal Mode.

Firefox team, stop using your regular users as Beta testers for your roll-outs. There should be a QA team in your company for that. If your new product hasn't been fully vetted yet, then don't force your customers to update.

Thumbs down for Firefox 29.0

Moira Queen Episode on Arrow

Warning: Possible spoilers

Moira Queen was killed by Slade Wilson on the latest episode of Arrow. In an attempt to replicate the agony he is going through because Oliver Queen chose Black Canary's life over Shadow, Deathstroke make Oliver decide who lives, either his mother or his sister. But instead of Oliver choosing, Moira makes the choice for him. As the mother of both Oliver and Thea, she chooses to sacrifice her own life so that her children might live.

While the episode would have been about Roy's struggle with the effects of the Mirakuru, for me, the episode was really about Moira Queen's character. She may have made poor and questionable choices in the past, but she always looked out for the welfare of her children. This episode would have been perfect for Mother's day, but I guess the timing wouldn't have fit the schedule of the show.

Will this sacrifice bring back the old Arrow who was willing to kill so that justice may be served? Will Oliver avenge Moira's death and kill Slade? The season is winding down. Let's hope it has a spectacular finish. Stay tuned and see how it ends. 

Son of Batman 2014

Warning: Possible spoilers

Damien Al Ghul Wayne. That is the name I suppose, although it wasn't directly mentioned in the movie. But if you were wondering who is the answer to the movie title if it were posed as a question, then that would be my answer.

He is the grandson of Ra's al Ghul, the leader of the League of Assassins. His daughter Talia, and Bruce Wayne had a brief encounter which ended up with Damien being born. Bruce even hinted at being forced into it. But he never new that Talia conceived. Damien ends up being raised and trained by the League of Assasins, and is pretty skilled in fighting for a 10 year old. He also knows his way around business, computers, and being a bratty rich kid. Alfred hating him is proof of that.

Later on, Damien dons the Robin costume which originally belonged to Dick Grayson. Dick is now Nightwing and pretty much helps save the Batman family in the end.

As for the villain, Deathstroke seems to be getting plenty of exposure nowadays. From being the main villain on the Arrow TV series this season, to being the reason for the death of Ra's al Ghul in this movie, this DC villain seems to be in demand. In the Arrow TV series, Oliver Queen is responsible for Deathstroke's right blind eye. In this movie, it is Damien Wayne who damages that eye, and this is the reason why Deathstoke wants him obliterated.

Minor villains include Killer Croc and bat-ninjas.

The coolest cartoon movie I've seen this year so far. Check out the Son of Batman. I'll give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Bethlehem

The little town of Bethlehem is probably most famous for being the birth place of the Lord Jesus Christ. But did you know that it is also the place where a young shepherd boy named David was anointed by the prophet Samuel as the next king of Israel?

You can read about this in 1st Samuel Chapter 16.

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you feel sorry for Saul? I have rejected him as king of Israel. Fill your horn with oil and go to Bethlehem. I am sending you to Jesse who lives in Bethlehem, because I have chosen one of his sons to be the new king.”

We can find Bethlehem in Google Maps. It is to the south of Jerusalem and west of the Dead Sea.

I pray that your faith is strengthened knowing that the locations in the Bible are real places. It is not a book of fiction. It is God's Word. If you haven't committed your life to Jesus Christ, I would like to invite you to do so by reading this post. 

Anna Kendrick on SNL

I've been an Anna Kendrick fan since her role in Up In The Air with George Clooney. I thought that that particular movie gave her acting justice, compared to her roles in Twilight and Scott Pilgrim VS. The World. But I never thought she was a great singer. I think she could have played Kristen Bell's part in Frozen.

from http://www.aceshowbiz.com

So if you want to get a taste of Ms. Kendrick's singing prowess, watch the intro, where she sings as Belle in Beaty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid bit of her as guest in SNL. She's really funny and amazing. For more on Ms. Anna Kendrick, follow this link.

P.S. Kudos and props to Aidy Bryant for her role as Ursula.

Gaza

If we read Judges 16, we will encounter the city of Gaza.

Samson Goes to the City of Gaza

16 One day Samson went to the city of Gaza. He saw a prostitute there and went in to stay the night with her. 2 Someone told the people of Gaza, “Samson has come here.” They wanted to kill him, so they surrounded the city. They hid near the city gate and waited all night for him. They were very quiet all night long. They had said to each other, “When morning comes, we will kill Samson.”

3 But Samson only stayed with the prostitute until midnight. Then he got up and grabbed the doors of the city gate and pulled them loose from the wall. He pulled down the doors, the two posts, and the bars that lock the doors shut. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill near the city of Hebron.

Below is the location of Gaza based on Google Maps. It is located west of the Dead Sea, near the coastline of Israel.

Samson is probably the basis for many super heroes with tremendous strength. Hercules was probably based on him. Cerberus, a two headed dog that breathed fire was probably based on the account where Samson took two pairs of foxes, tied their tails together with a torch, to put the fields of the Philistines on fire. We can read about that in Judges 15.

4 So Samson went out and caught 300 foxes. He took two foxes at a time and tied their tails together to make pairs. Then he tied a torch between the tails of each pair of foxes. 5 He lit the torches that were between the foxes’ tails and let them run through the grain fields of the Philistines. In this way he burned up the plants growing in their fields and the stacks of grain they had cut. He also burned up their vineyards and their olive trees.

I pray that your faith is strengthened knowing that the locations in the Bible are real places. It is not a book of fiction. It is God's Word. If you haven't committed your life to Jesus Christ, I would like to invite you to do so by reading this post. 

23 Qualities Of A Woman Worth Dating

23 Qualities Of A Woman Worth Dating

By Jarrid Wilson

Searching for “the one” can be a daunting task. And while there may be hundreds of qualities to look for in a woman, my wife and I have come up with 23 that I believe every man should seek after. This post is quite similar to the previous one, but don’t let that keep you from digesting its truth. Don’t tread lightly when it comes to the idea of a relationship. You can be as picky as you want, and I discourage you from ever just settling. Everyone is looking for something different, but I hope these 23 qualities will help you on your journey, keep you from dating the wrong people, and encourage you to not ever sell yourself short. God didn’t create you to settle.

1. She loves God.
2. She is supportive.
3. She is goal oriented.
4. She is kind.
5. She encourages you.
6. She is honest.
7. She respects her parents.
8. She respects her/your purity.
9. She is modest.
10. She puts God first.
11. She is friendly.
12. She laughs at your jokes.
13. She is someone you are attracted to.
14. She is always willing to lend a helping hand.
15. She will pray for you.
16. She is a hard worker.
17. She is responsible.
18. She doesn’t gossip.
19. She doesn’t make hasty decisions.
20. She doesn’t have a foul mouth.
21. She has good manners.
22. She is appreciative of the things you do for her.
23. She is always thinking on the bright side.

There is a high chance you will not be able to find a woman who reaches each of these qualities perfectly, but I’m sure you get the point I am trying to make. There is a perfect woman out there for you, so I pray you take the time needed before moving into any type of relationship. Don't settle. I’m not a relationship expert, but I’d like to think these qualities are pretty informative for anyone looking to have one that lasts.

Kadesh

Numbers Chapter 20 verse 1 states:

The Israelites arrived at the desert of Zin in the first month of the year. The people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron.

We can find the location of Kadesh on bible-history.com.

 

Let's see where this is in Google Maps.

I pray that your faith is strengthened knowing that the locations in the Bible are real places. It is not a book of fiction. It is God's Word. If you haven't committed your life to Jesus Christ, I would like to invite you to do so by reading this post.

Who Has Viewed My Facebook Profile 2014

Note: This tool will only help give you an idea of who views your Facebook profile. The links at the top of the list are more likely to have viewed your profile more recently than those found at the bottom of the list.

• Step 1: Make your you are logged into Facebook. 
• Step 2: Go to your Timeline, right-click with your mouse, and choose "View Page Source" 
• Step 3: Look for a list of numbers near {"list": . The numbers will look like "1000100101","123456789","987654321"
• Step 4: Copy the entire string of numbers into the box below. 
• Step 5: Click on 'Clean'. Once you see a bunch of numbers, click on 'Tally'. 

You now have a list of links to Facebook profiles who may have recently viewed your own. Enjoy.

Paste the list of numbers from your Facebook Timeline Source Code:

Clean

Tally

All Is Lost

Warning: Possible spoilers

Would you survive if you were alone on a sail boat in the Strait of Sumatra and you were over 60 years old? I tell you who would survive such a scenario. Robert Redford. This guy is one tough old man.

Trouble seems to like this man. His ship gets hit by a shipping container floating in the middle of the ocean. This forces him to repair the hole created by the accident. Then a storm catches up with him, causing all sorts of damage and injury. He tries his best to repair the damage with the limited resources he has on board his ship. But everything he goes through is just too much, and one can only surmise that "all is lost".

I wonder if I would have been as hopeful as the old man in the movie. He fought to the bitter end. He did not let his age, his weak body, nor his lack of knowledge and resources deter him from trying to survive. He did not give up even when no one helped him out. I think that all of us could learn a thing or two from his resilience during tough times.

The dialogue in this movie was so sparse, it encourages conversation among the people watching it. Something that rarely happens when people are actively watching a movie. Some even say it is like a modern day retelling of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. I personally thought it was a survival guide for people planning to take a sail boat all alone in the ocean. Here are some things you should know before you venture forth...

It was a good movie co-produced by Zachary Quinto (Spock in the latest Star Trek films). I'm not so sure it will win awards, certainly no awards for supporting actors & actresses, or best actress. But with all the depressing movies out there, this at least will lift you up. Because even when all is lost, hope remains.

Red Sea

The Red Sea is mentioned in Exodus Chapter 10. This was the account of the plague of locusts, one of the ten plagues brought upon Egypt since Pharaoh would not let the the Israelites go.

The following verses are from Exodus 10:12-19:

¹² The Lord told Moses, “Raise your hand over the land of Egypt and the locusts will come! They will spread all over the land of Egypt and will eat all the plants that the hail did not destroy.”
¹³ So Moses raised his walking stick over the land of Egypt, and the Lord caused a strong wind to blow from the east. The wind blew all that day and night. When morning came, the wind had brought the locusts to the land of Egypt. ¹⁴ The locusts flew into the country of Egypt and landed on the ground. There were more locusts than there had ever been in Egypt. And there will never again be that many locusts there. ¹⁵ They covered the ground, and the whole country became dark. The locusts ate every plant on the ground and all the fruit in the trees that the hail had not destroyed. There were no leaves left on any of the trees or plants anywhere in Egypt.
¹⁶ Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. ¹⁷ Now, forgive me for my sins this time. Ask the Lord to remove this ‘death’ from me.”
¹⁸ Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. ¹⁹ So the Lord changed the wind. He made a very strong wind blow from the west, and it blew the locusts out of Egypt and into the Red Sea. Not one locust was left in Egypt!

We can easily find the Red Sea on today's Google Maps.

But if you want to determine the point where the Israelites crossed a body of water by God's power, further study is necessary. I would recommend this site http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-red-sea-miracles.htm.

You can also watch the following video which provides evidence of the remnants of Pharoah's army under the sea.

I pray that your faith is strengthened knowing that God is always concerned about the safety of His people. If you haven't committed your life to Jesus Christ, I would like to invite you to do so by reading this post.

Mercy Mercy Acoustic Chords by Hillsong

Here's a chord attempt at Hillsong's Mercy Mercy. Enjoy!

Mercy Mercy by Hillsong

Standard Tuning

Intro: F#m – C#m – D – A (x2)

Verse 1:

    F#m

Mercy mercy

C#m      D     A

Bring me to my knees

      F#m     

As the morning

         C#m       D       A

Calls to light the dark in me

        F#m

Heaven's story

          C#m    D     A

Breathing life into my bones

     F#m       

Spirit lift me

          C#m       D       A

From this wasteland lead me home

Pre-chorus:

    E

Now I

        D        A

Find my life in Yours

   E

My eyes

       D

On Your Name

Chorus:

     F#m        

Arrest my heart

            A

From its reckless path

   D                   Bm

Release the chains in me

  F#m

Awake my soul

           A

To the hope You hold

        D             Bm

Your grace is all I need

Instrumental: F#m - C#m - D - A

Verse 2 (same as Verse 1):

Humble glory

Chose to carry all my shame

Rendered worthy

In the shadow of Your Name

Gracious fury

Written in my Saviour's scars

Mercy mercy

Now engraved upon my heart

Pre-chorus

Chorus (x2)

Instrumental (x2): F#m - C#m - D - A

Ending:

    F#m

Mercy mercy

C#m      D     A

Bring me to my knees

      F#m     

As the morning

         C#m       D       A

Calls to light the dark in me