Astronomer Ellie Arroway was the director of SETI, or the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. When a radio signal from Vega System, 26 light-years away from Earth, was detected through their radio telescopes, Arroway knew it was the message she had been waiting for.

The radio signal, or the Message as it was called, was decrypted with the cooperation of multinational scientific community. It then revealed that the Message was an instruction for building a machine. The Message created a national, even world wide issue. That the project should be stopped, or the Machine was a sort of Trojan horse for the extraterrestrials to attack the Earth, even a Doomsday Machine.

Several religious communities and sects involved themselves with the Message and Machine issues as well. Some believed it was a message from God, others assumed it was from the Devil, and that the creation of the Machine was such a demonic act.The Machine was built nevertheless, and the project was completed.

Arroway met Palmer Joss, a prominent religious leader and they had different stands about the Message and the Machine, much more about science and God. Arroway was skeptic, or rather agnostic about the existence of God and doubted if there were even evidences. And Palmer Joss, the one who looked at scientists as faithless, people who alter one’s belief about the existence of a Great Being.

Lots of people have different beliefs about God, or the significance of science with our spiritual concerns. But Carl Sagan used his book, with his imagination, to explain how the two aspects are really connected.

Science can build faith the way it did to Arroway. Her journey through the galaxy on board the Machine made her understand that there were actually beings much smarter and much more civilized than humans, and what those beings could do, and how petty she was a creature compared to those who had sent the Message.

We are all searching for something. Searching for truth, for something we’ve never had, something we’ve lost. But most important is what’s within us, what we've always had, and yet never realized it was there all along.

***Contact was published on 1985, and then later adopted for a motion picture on 1997

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30 Balls: The 99.5 HiT FM Year end Countdown

30. Elliot Yamin - Wait for you
29. Yellowcard - Light up the sky
28. Vanessa Carlton - Nolita fairytale
27. P.Diddy + Keyshia Cole - Last night
26. Chicosci - Seven black roses
25. Rihanna + Jay-z - Rihanna
24. Fall Out Boy - I'm like a lawyer...
23. Timbaland + Keri Hilson - The way i are
22. Dashboard Confessional - Stolen
21. Nelly Furtado - Say it right
20. Paramore - Misery business
19. Urbandub - Guillotine
18. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Face down
17. Jojo - Beautiful girls reply
16. Paramore - Crush, crush, crush
15. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
14. Avril Lavigne - When you're gone
13. Wake Up Your Seatmate - Panaginip
12. Fall Out Boy - The takeover, the break's over
11. Imago - Sundo
10. Chicosci - Vampire social club
9. Fall Out Boy - Thnks fr th Mmrs
8. Callalily - Pasan
7. Boys Like Girls - Hero/heroine
6. Callalily - Magbalik
5. Maroon 5 - Makes me wonder
4. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Your guardian angel
3. Pumping Pluto - Di ko alam
2. The Click Five - Jenny
1. My Chemical Romance - Teenagers

* * *

The MAGIC 30 Year End Countdown

30. Shop Boyz - Party like a rockstar
29. Hellogoodbye - Here (in your arms)
28. Robin Thicke - Lost without U
27. Avril Lavigne - Keep holding on
26. 50 Cent + Justin Timberlake - AYO technology
25. Maroon 5 - Won't go home without you
24. Katharine McPhee - Over it
23. Sandwich - Sunburn
22. Bone Thugs 'N Harmony + Mariah Carey + Bow Wow - Lil' L.O.V.E
21. Thirty Seconds To Mars - The kill
20. Fall Out Boy - Thnks fr th Mmrs
19. Gwen Stefani + Akon - The sweet escape
18. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
17. T- Pain + Akon - Bartender
16. P.Diddy + Keyshia Cole - Last night
15. Rihanna + Ne-Yo - Hate that i love you
14. Augustana - Boston
13. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Your guardian angel
12. Daughtry - Over you
11. Ne-Yo - Because of you
10. Maroon 5 - Makes me wonder
9. Akon - Don't matter
8. Nelly Furtado - Say it right
7. Fall Out Boy - The takeover, the break's over
6. Rihanna + Jay-Z - Umbrella
5. Dashboard Confessional - Stolen
4. The Click Five - Jenny
3. Timabaland + One Republic - Apologize
2. Daughtry - It's not over
1. Elliot Yamin - Wait for you

* * *

MONSTER RADIO RX 93.1 Year End Countdown

20. Enrique Iglesias - Do you know
19. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
18. Gwen Stefani + Akon - The sweet escape
17. Avril Lavigne - Keep holding on
16. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Your guardian angel
15. Jojo - Beautiful girls reply
14. Rihanna + Ne-Yo - Hate that i love you
13. Kelly Clarkson - Sober
12. The Click Five - Jenny
11. Timabaland + One Republic - Apologize
10. Katharine McPhee - Over it
9. Hinder - Lips of an angel
8. Jesse McCartney - Just so you know
7. Akon - Don't matter
6. Timbaland + Keri Hilson - The way i are
5. Amber Davis - Back into you
4. Britney Spears - Gimme more
3. Rihanna + Jay-Z - Umbrella
2. Elliot Yamin - Wait for you
1. Maroon 5 - Makes me wonder

I didn't get it. Does that mean i have to watch the other Exorcist movies to understand this, or am i just naturally slow?

I only watched Exorcist: The Beginning just becuz mum was bothering me about the Exorcist she had seen some decades ago, like, the scariest she had ever seen in her life.

I actually didn't know what to expect, but if i did not expect it to be so scary, at least i wanted a nice story. Neither was delivered in the movie, as far as i'm concerned. It was so disappointing. There was not a single horrifying scene that's supposed to make it a horror movie. Even the pacing was so slow, hundred percent slower than my mental ability. It was so unconvincing, and i'm still wondering what was the deal with the hyenas and those African rituals they inserted? Was that really necessary?

It was so boring. What a waste of time

This is a very good film if you want to see action packed BAM BAM, sci-fi adventure, fantasy and suspense. This is great!

The effects are marvelous and i was really amazed with the Nautillus becuz when i was reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (which i didn't finish) i only imagined what was Nautillus like, but when i saw it in the movie i could fall in-love with it. Plus Shane West is really nice here, playing Tom Sawyer from the American Secret Service Agency. How lovable.

I don't care if some pseudo-critics think it's a mess. I love it. And i loved Shane West even more.

Even before the final showdown, i've had a good feeling Jordin was going to be the new American Idol. Although i fell in love with Blake Lewis, i can't deny that Jordin's big voice prevailed over Blake's beatbox. Blake was also a winner nonetheless, with his originality and amazing talent, plus his whole bunch of fans and a brand new Mustang. And he's definitely a hot kid. Simon said Blake was not the best singer in the competition, but he was the best performer. Of course, Blake definitely knows how to entertain the audience. And i still love him, for the same reason why every girl loves him.

In the finale, Jordin and Blake sang three times: an encore performance of the song they had previously performed on the show, something new and the songwriting winner. Blake's energy was unquestionable with his best performance of Bon Jovi's “You give love a bad name.” But Jordin stole the round two with Martina McBrides's “A broken wing.” Randy thought it was better than the original. And when she sang the songwriting contest winner “This is my now” she has made the song her own, putting all her emotions in it that she cried in the end. And like all the fans, i was also moved by her soaring voice. She really deserved to be the American Idol; though young as she is, she sounds like a classic.

JORDIN SPARKLES!

i expected it to be as good as, if not better, than Madagascar. But Madagascar is much better. The fact that The Wild is from Disney actually made me disappointed with it. It made me laugh only for two seconds. What a waste of time. And it's sad because the animation was so good, but it's just not worth it. Sorry, but i didn't like it. Even my 8 year old cousin got bored with it.

This movie is inspired by Chinese superstitions and their spooky rituals. It focuses, though, about the gate of hell being opened in the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar and then the spirits will come out -- to scare people, most probably. That's what they usually do.

The storyline isn't really something most of us haven't seen before, and it has the usual tricks up the sleeves of horror filmmakers, like the passing shadows, musical crescendos, creaking furniture, and close up fast cuts. The plot was somewhat complicated, but it did it's job as a horror movie to me, making me hold my breath from beginning to end. It delivered some good scares even when it’s most expected. And i did scream. I seldom scream when i watch horror movies. But The Maid made the other horror movies i've watched seem funny to me.

These are the TOP 20 songs of 2006 in two of the most popular radio stations in Metro Manila


MAGIC 89.9 --

20. URBANDUB -- first of summer
19. JOHN MAYER -- dreaming with a broken heart
18. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- welcome to the black parade
17. PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- i write sins not tragedies
16. LL COOL J / JENNIFER LOPEZ -- control myself
15. KAMIKAZE -- doobeedoo
14. THE FRAY -- how to save a life
13. CARRIE UNDERWOOD -- Jesus take the wheel
12. PUSSYCAT DOLLS / SNOOP DOGG -- buttons
11. RASCAL FLATTS -- what hurts the most
10. CASSIE -- me and you
9. CHRISTINA AGUILERA -- hurt
8. SNOW PATROL -- chasing cars
7. PARIS HILTON -- stars are blind
6. FERGIE -- london bridge
5. DANIEL POWTER -- bad day
4. BEYONCE -- irreplaceable
3. RIHANNA -- unfaithful
2. KAMIKAZE -- narda
1. NE-YO -- so sick


MONSTER RADIO RX 93.1 --

20. BEYONCE / SLIM THUG -- check on it
19. SHAKIRA / WYCLEF JEAN -- hips don't lie
18. CRAIG DAVID -- unbelievable
17. NINA -- someday
16. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE / T.I. -- my love
15. ERIC BENET -- the last time
14. INXS -- afterglow
13. THE FRAY -- how to save a life
12. STACIE ORRICO -- i'm not missing you
11. CASSIE -- me and you
10. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE -- sexy back
9. PUSSYCAT DOLLS -- stickwitu
8. SAME SAME -- love isn't
7. NE-YO -- sexy love
6. JOJO -- too little too late
5. PUSSYCAT DOLLS / SNOOP DOGG -- buttons
4. BEYONCE -- irreplaceable
3. PUSSYCAT DOLLS / WILL I AM -- beep
2. KAMIKAZE -- narda
1. NE-YO -- so sick

"All children grow up, except ONE."

for the first time, a boy -- Jeremy Sumpter -- stars in the title role of the fantasy-adventure PETER PAN.

Jeremy Sumpter is just PERFECT as Peter Pan -- the energy, the spirit, the boy charm. He is a daunting young man, very athletic, and he has that melting smile of the mischievous boy that seems to affect the female heart. Yet, he is still a cocky cut-throat little soldier, ready to take on Hook and his band of pirates. He is Peter in the way he should really be. As a young and brash boy, with dirty feet and hands, blond tousled hair, in one hand a sword, and in the other an acorn -- a kiss, for Wendy.

i simply fell in love in this movie. i felt so twelve-year-old as i watched it. It's so wonderfully made, not only in the visual sense, but also in its ability to make the audience want to scream out "I do believe in fairies!" Truly fantastic. The characters carried the film excellently, and all the cast have done justice to the well-loved classic.

It had not only the fairy tale-like wonder that kids would love, but also some mature concepts and morals. This film truly is spellbinding, and although I have never read the book or seen the play, I am sure that this is the best screen adaptation that has ever been done.

i have nothing to complain. PJ Hogan definitely made his version of Peter Pan outstanding and unforgettable. All should see it, kids, teens and adults. JM Barrie would have been so proud.

Everybody now:
"i do believe in fairies. i do, i do..."

I grew up with this series, particularly Sweet Valley High, Jr.High and SVU. I was thirteen when i first read a Sweet Valley and i got hooked on it ever since. And becuz my life was boring, i just got contented reading Sweet Valley, especially that the characters were also teenagers so i could relate to them. Sometimes i even got inspired. I also learned to have sense of humor here. The approach was always light even in serious situations; simple but not shallow.

Sweet Valley characterized different types of teenagers. There was the rich kid, the typical cheerleader, the class clown, the class gossip, the straight A, the MVP... anything that could classify high school kids. Generally, it's focus was on school as what most typical teenagers' life was about -- go to school, make friends, go home... But for that matter it was actually about life as you grow up and cope up. SVU continued it as the characters moved on to a new environment, a lot of changes and new characters in their own lives. Complicated but easy to understand becuz what could be found here were common growing-up experiences like identity crisis, dilemma, coping up in school, peer pressure, being the center of morbid curiosity, dealing with parents... and being laughed at for getting serious. And i indeed experienced those. It just seemed cuter when i read it in fiction.


I rested my forehead against the cool bathroom tile and closed my eyes...
Every time I thought I was taking a step in the right direction, I wound up falling on my face. I took one last look in the mirror to see if I had IDIOT written across my forehead.
-- Jessica Wakefield
Jr.High # 6 (Lacey's Crush)

It wasn't that scary. The Maid was still better. And in the tradition of Feng Shui, its plot revolved in a superstition but this time, it just got a little too complicated that those who were involved got a dose of their bad luck.

The story of The Wedding Curse was simple, pretty thin and usual in most horror movies nowadays. But what's good here was the screenplay and cinematography, it was really for an international quality. Although the story was simple, the delivery carried it quite well and the style was different and really good when it comes to technical aspects that's why i liked it and i think the viewers would also appreciate it.

So in all, i actually liked this movie especially the climax. Besides i didn't need to worry about having a nightmare after watching this. The scary scenes were mild, if it were scary at all. And if those who watched The Wedding Curse had seen The Ring and Feng Shui first (like me), i guess they're pretty used to an ugly girl with a long hair that seemed to cunjure everywhere.

definitely not for kids.
better than the first Saw, and a little more bloody. If you're in the mood for a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is worth a try.

unlike the other regular horrors and thrillers, Saw is not the usual killer-chasing-victim story. Jigsaw, the antagonist, actually wanted his victims to survive his game and live; his game which was a test for the victims' survival instincts.

psychologically terrifying, but it isn't the violence that makes it frightening. what makes it unforgettable is the idea, the cinematography, the plot. and it's not a good way of making you realize that you should be content with your life.

like the first Saw, there was a big twist at the end of this movie... be prepared to be surprised.

I've seen the first two, so i wanted to check this one out. i didn't expect much for the story, and i thought it's just the same one like before -- people on a death list figuring out who's next to die, and trying to escape it. But i wasn't disappointed for this because there were actually new elements in the plot. For example, by trying to escape death it was actually made to happen. And then there's someone who blamed another for the death of his best friend, so he tried to put that person on his destiny to die.

It didn't beat the original, but it could hold your breath for a while, and you'd wait... wait... and BAM!! someone just got his head off. ouch. You'd know it when someone was going to die and you'd be like, "yah, she's next," or "it's time for that kid," but then you never really knew.

It still had the trauma of Flight 180. People who get affected by what they watch or read might get a little paranoid when they see this film. Think twice before you go in a tanning bed again, or take that ride in a roller coaster. You're not safe anywhere. HAHAHAH!!

Go watch this. Enjoy. And be careful

the story isn't Biblical regarding spirits of dying people, but i really find it cute. the chemistry is wonderful! i'm not really into romantic movies, but i like this one becuz it's... just like heaven!

it's a feel-good movie and you'll definitely feel good after watching it. a little bit of a fairy tale with a happy ending. but more than the love story is the friendship story of the two main characters Elizabeth and David, and how they helped each other. their character development is very good and the movie improves as you watch it

you won't be disappointed with this suspense-thriller. if you like watching suspense or horror, you have to see this.

the story begins when a group of college friends had to stop over in a strangely silent and creepy town and spend the night there. this is where they met a weirdo and found a house full of wax figures that seemed to be more real than they looked. (you have to know why they looked so realistic, to think that they were "just" wax figures.)

the murder scenes are creative and the tortures are horrible. it has interesting story but not too deep so you'll get it without having to ponder everything.

i'm also impressed with the sceenplay of this film. the story isn't rushed, but you won't get bored while getting to the climax. they did a good job at keeping you entertained.

it may have some dramatic points, when you think of the fates of the victims and the tortures they experienced. you might even have pity for Wade, one the main characters who suffered the same fatality.