Matt’s blog

I've been posting a lot of physical fitness tips and exercises lately so I thought of taking a break from all that and train one of the more important parts of our body - the brain. Here are some puzzles that could actually make you scream out of frustration in trying to solve them. Just a few tips: relax, focus, use all available resources (except looking for solutions over the Internet), and get some snacks and drinks when you feel like it.

Not Pron

Not Pron - A browser-based game that requires you to look for clues from every single page (including images, URLs, and page source - some levels even require you to use specific programs to solve). It has been years since I last tried to solve this and forgot what level I got stuck at. The solutions seemed to have changed since I last tried, although the methods of getting them are the same. It is very, very difficult and I highly doubt anybody can solve it in one sitting. Try it.

Source: http://www.deathball.net/notpron/

Family River Crossing

Family River Crossing - I'm sure most of you have encountered river crossing games that require the player to move a certain number of people, animals, or object to the other side. Although it sounds easy, there are certain rules to follow that make a simple task very difficult. Click on the blue circle after loading the game. The rules for this one are as follows:

1. The raft can carry only 2 people.
2. The father can not be left with any of the daughters unless the mother is present
3. The mother can not be left with any of the sons unless the father is present.
4. The criminal can not stay with any family member unless the guard is present.
5. Only the father, mother, and guard know how to use the raft.

Click on the characters to move them on/off raft. Click the red control ball to send the raft across the river.

Source: http://www.smart-kit.com/s888/river-crossing-puzzle-hard/

Bridge Crossing

Bridge Crossing - Another classic puzzle. For this one, you'll have to guide a family in crossing a bridge. The bridge can only hold 2 people and the lamp would last only 20 minutes (the one I played before was 30 minutes but with one more person). After crossing the bridge with the lamp, someone will have to go back with it to fetch the others. Each person has a number, which is actually the number of minutes that he/she can cross the bridge. Of course, the faster person has to follow the pace of the slower one so the number of minutes to cross would depend on the latter.

Source: http://www.novelgames.com/flashgames/game.php?id=55

People have been trying to figure out ways on how to save endangered species. Groups have performed demonstrations to tell people to stop killing the poor things. Laws have been made to protect them, but what exactly is the best method of doing so?

According to Gary Paul Nabhan, a conservation scientist, the best way to save them is to create a market demand for them. Makes sense, if there's enough demand for the creatures, then companies may decide to invest in breeding them. What kind of demand does the scientist mean? As food. Read the article here.

If things go well, food that were restricted will be out in the market again or the Chinese will be able to create medicine from turtles and tortoises like before. Here are three examples of endangered species that can be used for food and other stuff.

Newborn Golden Coin turtle

Turtles and Tortoises - I mentioned these above. The Chinese people use them for food and medicine. Before we continue though, what's the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? Basically, a turtle spends most of its time and is more compatible to water, while tortoises spend more time on land. There are a variety of medicine produced from different parts of the turtle. One example is a skin medicine produced from Cuora trifasciata or the golden coin turtle.

Mussell

Soy - It's not only animals that are endangered but also a variety of plants. One of the latest are soybeans. Soybeans are crops that provide oil and protein. They have become part of the staple food in Asia, particularly in China and Japan. Although relatively common in Asia than in America, only 45% of the production comes from the former while the other 55% is in America. 

What makes wine expensive is not just the taste or how much it was aged. Sometimes, it's not even the wine itself that gives it its value - it's the bottle. People have the tendency to collect old stuff and would pay a high price to have a certain item. Here are three of the most expensive bottles of wine in the world.

Chateau Lafite 1787

• Christie's London sold a Chateau Lafite 1787 in 1985 for $160,000. The bottle bore the initials Th J - Thomas Jefferson, the third US president's initials.
• The most expensive white wine ever sold also bore Thomas Jefferson's initials. It was a bottle of 1784 Chateau d'Yquem sold at Christie's London in 1986 for $56, 588.
• A bottle of Chateau Margaux that also bore Thomas Jefferson's initials was being sold for $500,000 by William Sokolin in 1989. However, before anyone could offer to buy it, the bottle was broken by accident - a waiter bumped the bottle with a coffee tray. Fortunately for the wine merchant, the bottle was insured and he got $225,000 for it, a price he could not have received had the bottle been safe and still being sold with the hefty price tag.

The wine in the bottles are no longer drinkable at this point in time (even if the Margaux managed to survive today). Like any item for collection, the rarity affects its value. And as time passes, the number of such items dwindle. Imagine how much those things would cost in the next century?

Source: http://www.forbes.com/2003/11/19/cx_np_1119feat.html

Finally, here's the last part of the dumbbell exercises. For reference, here are the first two parts (Part 1, Part2).

CALF

Single Leg Raise
- Position yourself near a wall and lean against it with one hand for balance. Hold the dumbbell with the other hand which is far from the wall. Raise the foot near the wall.
- Raise the heel of the other foot (the one you're standing with) by using your toes (tiptoe).
- Lower yourself slowly.
- Repeat 15 times and another 15 for the next set.

Seated Calf Raise.
- Sit on the bench with your feet apart.Rest the dumbbells on your thighs but keep a hold of them.
- Raise the heels by using your toes (tiptoe) while remaining seated.
- Lower your heels to the floor.
- Repeat 15 times and another 15 for the next set.

LEGS

Dumbbell Squats

- Stand with feet apart.and hold dumbbells to the side.
- Bend your knees until your thighs are almost parallel to the floor. Make sure to keep your head up and your back straight.
-  Slowly return to original position.
- Repeat 15 times and another 15 for the next set.

Well, that's everything. You can do other additional exercises for other body parts like sit-ups for the abdomen. Good luck on your training!

In line with my previous post, here are some more exercises you can perform with dumbbells at home.

One Arm Row

BACK

Dumbbell Dead Lifts:
- Bend forward with your arms straight towards the ground; hands and dumbbells positioned as if you were carrying a barbell. Bend your knees slightly, and make sure your back is flat with the lower back at a natural arch.
- Extend upwards while maintaining a flat back and slightly bent knees.
- Repeat steps 15 times then another 15 for the next set (or 10 with slightly heavier weights)

One Arm Row:
- Position yourself on the bench so that one arm is on the bench to maintain balance, your upper body is parallel to the floor and your arms extended towards the floor.
- While maintaining the position of the back, raise the dumbbell to your midsection using the strength of your back, not the biceps.
- Slowly lower the dumbbell to its original position.
- Same number repetitions as previous exercise(s). Do the same for the other arm.

Alternate Hammer Curls

BICEPS

Alternate Hammer Curls:
- Stand upright while holding the dumbbells at your sides, palms facing each other. Elbows should be as close to the body as possible.
- Curl dumbbell slowly for one arm then move it back to its original position. Continue with the other arm then repeat.
- Same number of repetitions as previous exercise.

Concentration Curls:
- Sit on the bench.
- While holding the dumbbell, position your elbow beside the inner thigh.
- Curl dumbbell towards your face then slowly return to its original position.
- Same number of repetitions as previous exercise.

TRICEPS

Overhead Triceps Extensions:
- Stand upright with your feet apart (as wide as your shoulders).
- Hold the dumbbell above your head with your arm fully extended and your free hand holding the elbow for support.
- Slowly fold your elbows to move the dumbbells behind your head then return to the original position.
- Same number repetitions as previous exercise(s). Do the same for the other arm.

Triceps Kickback

Triceps Kickbacks
- Position yourself on the bench so that one arm is on the bench to maintain balance, your upper body is parallel to the floor and hold the dumbbells near your midsection.
- Extend your elbow until your arm is parallel to the ground.
- Slowly lower the dumbbell to its original position.
- Same number repetitions as previous exercise(s). Do the same for the other arm.

I'll give some more exercises on my next post (Lower Body).

So you want to perform some exercises to train some of you muscles but couldn't find the time to travel to the gym? Well, I have a solution for you: just grab a set of dumbells then let me teach you some basic exercises to perform for training specific areas of the body.

For the next few posts, I'll be giving steps on how to perform certain dumbbell exercises. I'll also update the posts with pictures to better guide you on how to perform the said steps. Also, before we begin, I suggest you read some of my previous posts to prepare for your workout. Done? Alright. Let's begin.

CHEST:

Flat Press:
- Find a flat bench you can lie on. Lie flat on the bench and hold the weights directly above your chest as if you were holding a barbell. Make sure your arms are straight and not bent.
- Lower the weights, bring them slowly to your chest then extend your arms again back to its original position.
- Do this 15 times for the first set then 10 times for the second using a bit heavier weights (if not just do 15 more). Do note that you can adjust the number of sets and repetitions to your liking.This also goes for the next exercises.

Flat Flies:
-  Lie flat on the bench and hold the weights directly above your chest with the dumbbells parallel to each other (palms facing each other). Instead of straight, bend your elbows slightly.
- Move your arms to the sides while maintaining the "bent" position of your elbows then move the dumbbells back to their original position.
- Repeat 15 times then another 15 for the second set (or 10 for heavier weights).

SHOULDERS:

Shoulder Press:
- Sit upright on a bench.or a chair.
- Position the dumbbells above your head as if you were holding a barbell.
- Lower the dumbbells to your shoulders slowly, then bring it back to its original position.
- See previous exercises for number of sets and repetitions (just so I don't sound like a broken record).

Lateral Raise:
- Stand upright. Bend your knees slightly and hold the dumbells to your sides.
- Raise the dumbbells to your sides until your arms are parallel to the ground (like a cross).
- Lower dumbells back to their original positions slowly.
- See previous exercises for number of sets and repetitions.

That'll be all for now. I'll post some more tomorrow.

Mario Kart Wii US

I read this particular article about Nintendo not cutting prices on the Wii gaming console and DS handheld game system. According to Nintendo's CEO, Satou Iwata, "While the price of hardware is usually reduced over time, that could leave gamers who bought early feeling ripped off."

Personally, although I agree with Mr. Iwata, I still believe that the advantage of gamers who bought the console early is the amount of time that they were able to play the Wii compared to those who waited until later. Still, everybody has their own opinion on the matter and for that I agree with the decision of the company.

Speaking of the Wii console, the much expected Mario Kart Wii just recently came out in the US. The package (sold at a retail price of $49.99) comes with a Wii Wheel to get a better feel of the driving experience.

The best thing about the Wii is that the controller or Wii Remote was designed to create a more interactive experience for players. The motion detection feature of the remote alone has attracted casual gamers, women, and the elderly.

Another good point to it is that some games require players to move in a certain manner giving the player a bit of an excercise compared to other consoles where you could play the game while sitting comfortably. A good example would be the game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008. In order to play it using the remote (without the nunchuck extension), you will have to perform actual golf swings. Although some player's cheat by swinging the remote like a bat (which would actually give you a better performance in the game when done right. There's always an option for those who don't feel like moving around or does not have enough room to play - that option being the nunchuck.

7 things to avoid when working out

With last week's post regarding some tips to get started with working out, I've decided to also give you some reminders on how to get the most of your training. Of course, if you want that wonderful beach body that I, myself, wanted when I went on a trip to the Carribean, there are certain things you'll need to avoid when working out.

Skipping warm up - Warming up is the first thing you should do before working out. Skip that and you risk yourself getting injured or lose energy before you finish the program. Warming up helps release adrenaline, improves the movement of oxygen in the blood, and allows joints to move more efficiently. Also, since it increases the temperature of the muscles, it allows for greater elasticity of muscle fibers (which means less chances of developing cramps). Don't do too many warm-up sets, though; too much is also bad for you.

Skipping or not stretching enough - I've mentioned this in my previous post and I will say it again: without stretching first, your muscles are more susceptible to damage from the sudden jump from inactivity to hard activity. After warming up, stretch!

Lifting too much or increasing weight too early - I understand if you feel like you're in a hurry shaping up, I felt the same way when I started going to the gym. Pushing yourself too much by lifting too much weight than you can actually handle could be detrimental to your training program. First, since you'll be lifting more, you'll be using a lot more energy on a particular workout and may not have enough to finish your exercise. Second, you run the risk of getting injured.

Like what I suggested in my previous post, instead of jumping to a heavier weight, increase your sets and repetitions. When you feel the workout is getting easy, then it's time to increase the weight (but not too much).

Improper form - Like any exercise, gym workouts are done in a manner that requires a certain posture and a series of movements. If you want to get good results from your training, you should do the exercises as how they are meant to be done.

Forgetting to drink water - You'll be sweating a lot, that's a fact. So in order to replenish all the water in your body that you've lost while working out, drink a lot of water. Don't wait till you're feeling thirsty, the minute you do is actually the start of dehydration. When dehydrated, blood pressure is decreased and your heart and respiration rates would increase to compensate for it. In turn, the flow of oxygen and other nutrients in the blood would be reduced making them less functional.

Making up for absences - I know some people who try to make up for missing a workout period by doing more, moving it to another day during the week, or spending more hours in the gym during the following period. Here's an advice: don't do any of those. It's like going on a diet - if you ate more than what you were supposed to during one meal, you don't skip another meal to make up for it. The same goes for working out, if you happened to miss a day of working out, simply continue your regular routine and treat the absence as loss.

Improper diet and habits - Let's go outside of the gym for a change. Working out is only one part of the means to your goal (a healthy, beautiful body, of course). Outside of the gym and working out, it is equally important to eat proper meals and avoid habits such as smoking, or sleeping late. Those affect your training results so watch out.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

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Although the game has officially been out last month, it was only recently that I managed to complete it. And man, was it fun while it lasted! I'll admit, I've been a long time Final Fantasy fan and 7 is my favorite among all of them (along with Final Fantasy Tactics). So undoubtedly, after it was announced, I looked forward on getting my hands on a copy. So once it hit the shelves, I immediately got one.

Crisis Core revolves around the character Zack Fair, a First-Class Soldier and Cloud's (FF7 Main Character) friend. Basically, the game is a prequel to the original Final Fantasy VII.

The gameplay is pretty simple, you move Zack around the field and often times you'll randomly encounter enemies. The battles are also fairly simple, you attack enemies and use items while a "slot machine" (called the Digital Mind Wave) spins. Depending on the matches, the DMW could give Zack a good status effect or allow him to perform a special attack called a Limit Break.

The missions in the game are very easy and involves killing a bunch of enemies, getting a few chests, then claiming the rewards afterwards. The missions could be done in a few minutes, so as someone who's always on the go,  I could play one or two missions before heading off to do something important.

Crisis Core's graphics are pretty good for a PSP game - the CG cutscenes themselves are well done - while the soundtrack can get pretty repetitive. The classic FF7 tunes are still pretty good, though!

Overall, I will say it's a must have if you own a PSP. Otherwise, read a few reviews and decide if you'd like a purchase.