The Guitarist in Me

I always enjoy good music regardless of the genre and the type of instrument played but I always have a weakness for acoustic classics. I grew up singing to the music of Bread, Mr. Big, Eric Clapton and lately, to the guitar strums of Jack Johnson and John Mayer.

It is amazing how a six-stringed instrument could create such wonderful sound. I am always amazed when someone can play the guitar so well, because I for one am not talented when it comes to playing it. Let us just say I have a disability when it comes to playing an instrument. But maybe I can learn how to use a guitar effects processor such as the boss gt 6 since it is quite easy for me to figure out how to use gadgets. Then maybe I can make a career out of it? Hehe! I can dream on! :)

There is however, the saying that "practice makes perfect" and Albert Einstein also said: "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." Maybe, just maybe, if I am just passionately curious on how to play the guitar and if I practice a lot, it won't be long till my dream of finally playing the guitar comes true. So, should I let the guitarist in me out?

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Dump Bins for Your Retail Store Business

Many people share the dream of owning a store one day. Why not? Retailing is a good business, if you know how to start and you have the right attitude.

One of the most important things when running a retail store is the layout of the store. It should be such that everything your store has to offer or your merchandise is visible to the customers. A good way to achieve this is by using effective fixtures such as display tables and shelves, and Dump Bins and placing them in strategic locations so that they are visible to  the customers. Dump bins are paticularly effective if you use them to display items that are on special sale or items that customers frequently forget because they are small or are too common and then place them near the cash register. The customers can just pick the items that they need without having to leave the line.

Equally important is where you get your supply of fixtures. Because they will be used on a long term basis, they should be bought from a reputable dealer to make sure that they are of good quality: durable, flexible in terms of size and easy to install and transport.

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Who Is Maleficent?

We all love fairy tales but we do not really care so much about the antagonists... Being as they are, fairy tales are well, fairy tales. We don't really know much about the Big Bad Wolf or the Bad Witch or the cruel Stepmother but that they are BAD.

Now there is one film that tells the story of the antagonists. If you know the classic story of Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, you will know Maleficent, the wicked witch who placees the princess under an enchantment as her gift: the princess will prick her hand on a spindle and die.

The film will be called MALEFICENT and tells the unknown story of the wicked witch. Angelina Jolie plays Maleficent, along with other distinguished cast. The film is set to be officially released in March 14, 2014, and will be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Filming began last week and is reportedly taking place in the Buckinghamshire countryside.

Now there's another movie to watch out for!

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Steinway Pianos and Where To Buy Them

Do you love beautiful music? I have always enjoyed listening to piano music and would stop and listen to a live performance in one of the shopping centers here whenever I happen to be there. Although I am no expert when it comes to music, I can somehow tell if the instrument is a good one by the sound that it creates and the craftmanship. 

In this modern world where technology makes it possible to imitate and replicate originals, it is indeed difficult to know whether you are buying the genuine one. That is why when buying fine pre-owned musical instruments like grand pianos, it is important to first conduct your own reasearch as to which dealer is trustworthy and sells only the originals. How to know if a Steinway piano is authentic? It has the Steinway & Sons certificate of authenticity and offers also warranty.

One of the finest pianos that I know of, which produces that distinct and very refined sound is Steinway, which is built by Steinway & Sons. Steinway & Sons have been in the piano business for 150 years so that whether NEW or Used Steinway Pianos, you can guarantee that you are buying something that is of superior quality. Dedicated to creating the finest pianos in the world, every Steinway piano is built in an unhurried manner, using carefully selected raw materials and the strictest of standards. A grand piano, for instance takes about a year to build. 

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The UEFA Euro 2012: It's The Football Season!

The UEFA Euro 2012 Opening Ceremony.

©AFP/Getty Images

Today is the first day of the Euro UEFA Cup 2012, setting off with a match between Group A countries: Poland vs. Greece (1-1) in the first game and Russia vs. the Czech Republic (2-1 as of this writing) in the second game. Tomorrow, Group B countries will compete, with Netherlands vs. Denmark and Germany vs. Portugal. I hope the German national team will win, so that everybody will be in a good mood. Hehe!

But anyway, because of the UEFA Cup, there are so many promotions going on, especially when it comes to television sets. For those of us who are not able to go to Poland and Ukraine to watch the games live, a wide screen HDTV is the next best thing! Imagine yourself watching the game in very sharp and high definition television set, it's just like being there. But of course, you would need to reinforce your TV with toggle bolts especially if you are planning to attach it on a hollow wall in your living room.

To have a better feel of the football games, one could also hang the national flags of their favorite teams outside their window, or wear shirts and hats bearing the national team's official colors and logos. There are even bakeries here that give away German hats for free if your purchase is at least €5.00. Or you can collect trading cards which are given away by a grocery chain store for every €5.00 purchase. Even my little girl is collecting the cards! :D

It really is  exhilarating to watch a football match with a group of people who have a passion for the sport. Last time I watched a football match on TV, I found myself cheering and screaming my heart out too because the excitement was just so contagious. So which European team is your favorite?

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My Lil Girl's Origami Bird

As I was fetching my little girl from the Kindergarten today, she showed me a purple origami bird with a green-colored feather for a tail. I thought that it was really cute and I asked her who made it. She said she made it herself. One of the practicants showed her and the other kids how to do it.

When we got home, I asked her to show me how it was done and she gladly obliged. I couldn't believe that she actually remembered how it was made, at least the first few parts. I am really impressed! Looks like my little girl has a very good memory. I guess I will have to teach some more simple origami so that she can show her friends how it's done.

Here's a video that I made while she was making her origami bird. Vogel pronounced as "foo-gel" means bird. Apologies to those who cannot understand German.

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Thank You Eltmann, Bamberg!

Just a quick word of THANKS to the Filipino community of Eltmann, Bamberg for inviting us to their 5th annual Santacruzan celebration today. We just got home safe and we are all happily exhausted. The husband and little girl have both long gone to la-la-land, I could hear their soft snoring.

Entrance of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the eucharistic celebration.

And here I am, reminiscing the events of the day. I especially loved the most important part of that day's festivitites: the eucharistic celebration, which was celebrated with some Latin mixed in it, giving it a more solemn feel. The church was also almost full... with not only Filipinos but other nationalities participating in the eucharistic celebration as well.

After communion, I went to the other side of the pews and saw a baptismal room. I wondered if there was also a room especially meant for funeral ceremonies. I also wondered if it would be possible to hold both baptismal and funeral ceremonies in Latin as well. It would be a good idea when one is involved in funeral planning. I know in Vatican that they still say mass in Latin. Where else do they still say mass in Latin?

My little girl participating as one of the angels.

Auf die Bühne! All the participants were introduced on stage.

Anyway, the events that followed after the mass were successful. There may be some flaws in the program and difficulties were encountered along the way but overall, it was a job well done. We had fun with our friends and family, we encountered fellow Filipinos, and shared in the belief that fellowship in the name of the blessed Virgin Mary never ceases to put a smile on our faces.

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I ♥ Berlin: The World Fountain

It has been a month now since we visited Berlin and I still wasn't able to post about this beautiful capital of Germany. There is so much to tell about this city and so I decided to make a series of posts which I shall call "I ♥ Berlin".

On our first day of sightseeing, we decided to do a bus tour just to get a general information about the city and see all the major sights at once. While waiting for the tour bus in Kurfürstendamm, we decided to have some refreshments at the nearby Breitschneidplatz. Then I saw this really interesting fountain, which is made of red granite and bronze and shaped like the globe. My little girl also enjoys fountains a lot so we decided to check it out. We still had ample of time anyway.

It was only later when I found out that this fountain is called the Weltkugelbrunnen (world fountain) or lovingly called by the locals as Wasserklops (water ball). It was built in 1983 by and designed by Joachim Schmettaus. It has since then provided a refreshing addition to the City West district and forms the centre of a sunken square along the south-east edge of the Breitscheidplatz directly in front of the Europa Center. It is not just a plain round sphere as one would expect but is made with interesting figures, stairs, geometric shapes and carvings. There was a bronze crocodile that my little girl couldn't get enough of.

I love the sound of the water as it flows over the different shapes, down the stairway and collects in a basin at its foot. It calms and refreshes the tired soul. Even those with hearing aids would have no need to bring extra hearing aid batteries. Just looking at the flowing water already gives the impression that its sound will provide a soothing, calming effect.

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