Monday is reality tv day

Majority people of the world hate Monday. They called it all sorts of names: 'Monday blue', 'manic Monday', etc. But I love Monday because it's reality tv day.

I haven't blog about The Amazing Race: All-Stars (TAR) and America's Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 7 in any of my post yet. Man, I'm glad the shows are back on Monday. I like the fact that the shows are shown back to back on Channel V (ANTM 8 p.m.) and AXN (TAR 9.p.m.) so I don't need to get out of my seat.

The Amazing Race: All-Star
Hey, I thought Rob & Amber are supposed to be the bad guys. Perhaps they have mellowed down a bit after getting married, eh? After two legs, I'm pretty confident that Rob & Amber team is going to win this thing. It seems that Rob is pretty determined not to end up in second place again.

Since Rob & Amber are no longer the bad guys, the beauty queens, Dustin & Kandice are taking over the roles to be the #1 bad girls on this show. I wonder how America chose their beauty queens. Perhaps we should ask Jennifer Hudson because she knows why the Americans always make the wrong choices.

By the way, someone please tell David & Mary to be realistic a bit because nobody is going to help you all the way in a race that worth a million bucks. In a tight race to the pit stop last week (week 2), Charla & Mirna did the right thing, that is to overtake everyone else and race as quickly as possible to the pit stop. Who wants to be eliminated? David & Mary, the Cho brothers were just helping you guys in the previous season for their own benefits.

America's Next Top Model Cycle 7
How come Tyra Banks become so 'aunty' already? People said that she's getting fat and I guess it is quite true. But she's still beautiful and 'fierce'.

Some of the girls in this cycle are pretty anorexic-looking especially the twins, Amanda and Michelle. They are not really good role models for young girls. Besides, unlike previous cycles, there are no plus-sized model this year.

So far I haven't seen any ridiculous challenges yet. I must say that the scariest and most ridiculous task of all seasons, the previous cycle where the models were asked to walk on high platforms was the scariest moment. Danielle, who eventually won, actually twisted her foot during the task. It sounds easy but you should watch that episode (if you haven't) to understand what I am talking about.

They did mention that Megan resembles Kim from Cycle 5, right? They share something in common. You probably already know about Kim but yes, Megan is gay too. So does Michelle, the twin sister with better potential.

That's about it now. Until further review of the shows.

Federer wins at Dubai Open

We don't get to watch the Dubai Open on Astro sports channel, not even the final men's championship where Federer face off Mikhail Youzhny today.

However the result is out. Top seed Federer easily defeated Youzhny in 2 sets, 6-4 6-3. According to the official site of the Dubai Open, although Youzhny competed well, making Federer work hard to close out the match, he failed to bother the world number one after losing an early lead.

Federer is unstoppable this year. Nadal is not on top form to give Federer a good competition. Although the number one player was defeated by Andy Roddick in January, we knew it doesn't matter because he managed to defeat Roddick in their following match at the Australian Open recently.

Seriously I do not want to watch tennis when only one player dominating the game. It's feels like watching Michael Schumacher winning every F-1 Grand Prix. Can any player step up their game and stop Federer?

Federer the unbeatable genius

I'm not really a big fan of Federer because he is too perfect. This guy is a genius. And he is better than Tiger Woods in golf. Now he is in the final against Mikhail Youzhny at the Dubai Tennis Championships tomorrow.

The fact that Nadal lost his match against Youzhny simply worries me. It seems that he is going to have trouble maintaining his game this year. We are not sure if he is going to play better on clay. Hope Nadal, the king on clay, will improve his game when he play in Monte Carlo Open.

With Federer's wins at the Pacific Line Open in Indiana Wells and the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami last year, it is only fair to believe that the world number one is going to defend his championships again after tomorrow's game. In the meanwhile I don't think Federer is not going to have any problem taking on Youzhny, the world number 18.

discourse on happiness by Sakyamuni Buddha

This is taken from the Sakya Resource Guide website. So, what is happiness in the Buddhism point of view? Read this and enjoy.

Discourse on Happiness

I heard these words of the Buddha one time when the Lord was
living in the vicinity of Shravasti at the Anathapindika mona-
stery in the Jeta Park. Late at night a deva appeared whose light
and beauty made the whole Jeta Grove shine radiantly. After
paying respects to the Buddha, the deva asked him a question in
the form of a verse:

"Many gods and men are eager to know
what are the greatest blessings
which can bring about a peaceful and happy life.
Please, Tathagata, will you teach us?"

(This is the Buddha's answer):
"Not to be associated with the foolish ones,
to live in the company of wise people
and to honor those who are worth honoring-
this is the greatest happiness.

"To live in a good environment,
to have planted good seeds
and to realize that you are on the right path-
this is the greatest happiness.

"To have a chance to learn,
and to be skillful in your profession or craft
and to know how to practice the precepts and loving speech-
this is the greatest happiness.

"To be able to support your parents,
to cherish your own family
and to have a job that you like-
this is the greatest happiness.

"To live correctly, to be generous in giving,
to be able to give support to relatives and friends
and to live a life of blameless conduct-
this is the greatest happiness.


Discourse on Happiness

"To avoid doing bad things,
to avoid being caught by alcoholism or drugs
and to be diligent in doing good things-
this is the greatest happiness.

"To be humble and polite,
to be grateful, and content with a simple life
and not to miss the occasion to learn the dharma
this is the greatest happiness.

"To persevere and be open to change,
to have regular contact with monks and nuns
and to participate in dharma discussions-
this is the greatest happiness.

"To live diligently and attentively,
to perceive the Noble Truths
and to realize Nirvana-
this is the greatest happiness.

"To live in the world,
with your heart undisturbed by the world,
with all sorrows ended, dwelling in peace,
this is the greatest happiness.

"He or she who accomplishes this
will remain unvanquished wherever she goes.
Always he will be safe and happy-
This is the greatest happiness."

-Mahamangala Sutta (Suttanipata 1)