Camera360: Old or New 2.7.0 Versus 4.7.8

Not all new are the best. That's what i proved to be true at least in terms of choosing an Android camera app.
I had been a big fan of Camera360 since my first phone's camera (MyPhone TS1 Duo) starred erring. I found it so awesome. It had so many effect options and settings like Magic Skin we all love. I could only look better with only that cam. Fast forward this year when i got a new phone, Alcatel Touch Glory Idol 2. Of course, I immediately downloaded Camera360. But it looked different. When i initially took pics, they were not as lively but washed out. I continued getting new versions but to no difference. I thought it was my new phone's issue. But it was 3mp, better than my old's 2mp!
Then, I thought it might be because of the version i use. The old one was 2.7.0 and presently, i use Ultimate 4.7.8.
Let me just break down points between the two. 2.7.0 has camera settings for sunlight etc compared to 4.7.8's exposure setting. The latter's didn't make that difference even in it's highest. Using Magic Skin in Sunshine, the image is still washed out in 4.7.8  Blemishes are most noticeable, too. While the former's is more vivid. The 2.7.0 don't support front camera but 4.7.8 does. It also has more effects. 4.7.8 has 22 Scene to choose from although you have to download them which is a pain in the neck. 2.7.0 only has one-auto. Both has picture storage: ShareBox for 2.7.0 and Cloud360 for 4.7.8. Cloud360 is cool because images are broken down in dates. Plus, stored images can still be re-edited with a different effect! That's cool.
Verdict: i still like 2.7.0 better because of the camera settings. I like using Sunlight in dark settings. But if you have a stronger MP for your front and rear cam, you can keep 4.7.8. But for now let me keep both to get the best of both.

Geisha VS K-Pop Idol

 

I am very much into Geisha and K-Pop culture and I noticed that there are a lot of similarities on how a Geisha and a K-Pop trainee are CREATED. So, here are the points that I found and tell me if there are still anything else to be add up.

 

		Geisha			K-Pop Trainee
Gender		Before Geisha were men. But later on, only women are accepted.			Females and Males
Age of training		As early as age 5.			Early as 10 years old.
Formal Training		-learning to play musical instruments			-singing primarily
		-dancing			-learning to play musical instruments OPTIONAL
		-tea ceremony			-dancing
		-art of conversation			-acting and hosting
					-additional language
What Okiya/Agency pays for		-training lessons			-training lessons
		-living expenses (food, shelter) and wardrobe and other trade pieces.			-living expenses (food, shelter), wardrobe and other trade necessities.
		-wardrobe (Geisha don't dress themselves).			-appearance enhancement procedures if needed.
					-managers, stylist, make-artists,
					-produces albums or get a music contract for the trainee.
Length of apprenticeship/training ☺		-about 10 years			-1 year up to 10 years.
Age of debut		-15 years old			-as early as 13 years old as a soloist or a group member.
Initiation to the industry		-mizuage-sale of virginity			-high school showcase
Job description after training/apprenticeship		-entertain male clients through dance etc at teahouses and during banquets.			-entertain fans w/ TV and public musical performances. Make musical albums for public consumption.
		-Service is one-on-one.			-appear on movies and TV and CF's.
					-acting and hosting
Perks on the job☻		-clothes, jewelry vacations, social power and connections and income; pay varies			-income from album sales, TV and movie appearances and product sponsorship, free items from commercial sponsorship, trips domestic and international.
Being stuck to the Okiya/Agency. ☺		-an Okiya taking in a young girl to groom as a geisha is an investment. The Okiya mother pays for the living expenses and training lessons of the Apprentice.			-The Agency scouts the talent and takes him in as a trainee. A trainee is an investment for them. The Agency pays for the living expenses and training lessons of the Trainee.
		-The Mother keeps accounting notebook which lists the Apprentice's dues like food, training, etc for the whole duration of her stay in the okiya.			-The Agency has an accounting arm w/c looks over the expenses spent on the trainee and their earnings.
		-Once the Geisha debuts as an apprentice, most part of her earnings will go as payment for expenses the Okiya invested on her.			-Once the Trainee debuts as a Rookie, most of his earnings most part of his earnings will go as payment for expenses the Agency invested on him.
How to get out of the Okiya or contracts ☻		-Until those are paid, the Geisha will continuously live in the Okiya, adding up again dues and she needs to pay them by selling her skills to clients. Since the debts only add up, the Geisha will never be able to get out of the Okiya's claws for the rest of her life. She basically works for the Okiya.			-Until those paid from his earnings, the Rookie will continuously work for the agency, only leaving him a small income. Everything will be based on the Contract he signed w/ the Agency. He can still live in the dorms provided by the Agency but more likely, the rent will be shouldered by himself or other co-trainees. If
					-If Rookie continues to earns little due to low albums sale and few TV and movie appearances, he might retire for another profession. With that, it will just be an investment loss for the company.
After-career jobs		Teahouse mistress, courtesans and okiya owner			Most become full-time actors and TV presenters

K.Will's "Please Don't" MV Review

    Finally, I got to watch K.Will's "Please Don't" MV. I first learned

about it on "2012 Eat Your Kimchi Awards." It won the "Best Plot"

award. First, this MV requires a second view to appreciate it further

just like how you would watch "Titanic" over and over again 'coz,

every time there would always be a scene you missed, or turned out

differently from what you originally thought. It tackles a sensitive

subject: homosexual love. So, I'll just discuss the important scenes.

It would be better if you have already watched the MV because this

assessment is granted that you already know the plot.

    Car scene- This is the opening scene showing Dasom and InGeuk

rough-housing. Dasom, continuously teasing Inguek. And he can't take,

much to Dasom's enjoyment. For me, this scene is hypothetical. Dasom

was never there. It has just been InGuek on the car all along. I think

this is just after the wedding. He couldn't take the pain of his

heartbreak. Maybe in his mind, no more chance for him to be with the

guy. The manifestation of Dasom though, reveals the part of him being

guilty because he is inlove with his friend's husband. Her changing

expressions from laughing to sad, in InGeuk's mind would be her

reaction once he admits his true feelings. And also in the later

scenes that shows Ingeuk reaching for Dasom, it implies, he wanted to

be Dasom, so he cn have his friends love instead.

    1st STAIRCASE SCENE- I think this scene is when Dasom and the guy are

already married and InGeuk lives with them. Dasom still loves teasing

him and there is a scene that he is about to return the favor to

Dasom. But Dasom's husband comes in and InGeuk stops. Dasom runs to

her husband and he lovingly shields him from InGeuk. Did you see how

Ingeuk glares at Dasom and sheepishly smiles at the guy? So cute. You

can feel the awkward tension.

    2nd STAIRCASE SCENE- InGuek is going downstairs when he catches the

two going lovey-dovey. He doesn't know what to do. Seeing the person

you are inlove with, being affectionate towards another. How awful

could it be to see that everyday? It's like another stab to the wound.

At the Wedding-So, InGeuk is supposed to be doing best man duties, but

he doesn't seem to be up to it. He should be the one welcoming the

guests, you know not the groom. He steals glances at the Groom,

thinking how handsome he looks. Then, when he sees Dasom, it's like

"Looking beautiful friend. "I honestly think he is happy for her in a

way but sometimes, in the back of his head "Bitch!" I can almost hear

it. It is also where the groom and bride walk the aisle and InGuek

follows him with his stare. He looks back, but it seems he is clueless

about how his friend feels.

    Engagement announcement scene-This is when Dasom and the Boyfriend

tells InGeuk that they are engaged. InGeuk is shocked to hear that.

But they seem oblivious to his disgust.

At the veranda- InGeuk, forever alone. The Groom approaches InGeuk.

This is a giveaway part that you will realize He likes him. It's like

a typical K-drama where the guy pulls the girl by the wrist. Only this

time it's two guys. He is secretly enjoys the moment. Did you notice,

how he becomes upset because it turns out he is taking him to Dasom.

Did you see how he frowns when the two affectionately leans on one

another while they pose for the shot. Next to last, last car scene.

InGeuk takes out the picture of them 3. He rips it to two and later it

overlaps the two until he and the groom are next to each other.

Finally revealing the one he loves is the groom.

    All in all, I love this music video. it should win an Oscar or

anything equivalent. The scenes are back and forth from present to

past, but are perfectly sewn together. Never will you get lost

regardless of what perception you have-whether you think InGeuk is

inlove with Dasom or InGeuk is inlove with the husband. The shots are

beautiful. I love the song. K.Will definitely is a Star Balladeer. He

sings so emotional and the song lingers in my head. But the video

itself carries its own weight. This concept is so different; you

wouldn't even think it would happen in a K-Pop music video since Korea

is still a conservative country. And even though it's a rare concept

it was all worth it since it's effectively put together. It's just

amazingly.

Welcome to the New World, Arch. Alessandro Baluyut, Jr!

Finally, my husband Arch. Alessandro G. Baluyut, Jr and 800+ of his fellow board-passers took their oath as the Philippines' new licensed architects last March 03, 2013. It was just one day, but it took us forever to prepare for this day.

I can't forget the day that we learned he passed the board. You see, my husband never went to a review center like most people did. He just put in what he learned from school which was 5 years ago and some experience from his previous jobs. He didn't pass the first time And he nveer learned. I told him to go to a review school. He never went to one ,still. I took the most heartache when he didn't pass. My husband on the other hand, never took it that hard. So, his aunt gave him some money to attend a review class for the next exams. He just ran off with money and he just burned down the oil 2 days before the actual exams. I just gave him a nod. He said, "you don't have confidence in me, do you?" I scolded him. "You never paid attention to this studying!" What made it worse, is that he admitted the exams were harder this time around.

Low and behold, he passed! My mother-in-law, though quiet was very happy like the rest of us!

The event required formal attire for the inductees and semi-formal for the guests. I and Mami Sil, Ali's mom went with him. My husband opted for a shirt and tie. It was easier with guys. Due to my frugality, I earlier got this Zara blouse from a thrift (ukay-ukay) store and I wore my work spants (pants which looks like skirt), a bandau from my sister-in-law. Last minute I got a $1 -pair of peep-toes shoes. Damn, They're ll black, so me. On the otere hand Mami Sil wore an 80' style set which Lady Di would surely okay.

So, come Sunday, we went almost late to Manila Hotel, the ceremony place. I was thinking it would be a solemn and formal, royal-ish event. Where people would dress extravagant but not too sexy. I can't help but fashion-critique. Most of the female inductees wore short bandaid dresses and super high heels. The topnotcher was not different,: she wore a blue straight cocktail dress and black wedges. What is this, The Embassy? They really walke awkward. But some are lucky to be able to "carry" it The men on the other hand were impressive. Most wore suits either with black bowties or just ties. Very few wore Barongs. My husband of course, my husband looks so appropriate.

the ceremony is not to last that long but getting our food did. The guests' table are seprate from the passers as expected. The inductees were almost done taking their time on the stage and we haven't had our food. Finally, before everybody's done, we got served. the Top 2's dad even quipped, "Only coffee? We're the first one to give our tabs." The waiter explained that there had been so many people. Inductees tickets should ahve been paid prior to the event, but they still allowed people to pay them last minute. We got a tuna sandwich, some macaroni and some kind of empanada.

We were not able to take a lot of picture due to the digicam ran out of batteries and the camphones didn't have that good quality.

But were able to take formal pictures with the Manila Hotel Painting on the other hand for $13. Very expensive. But we are hoping they will be nice and big as the photogs say. On the other hand, we gt something from Boysen, the event's sponsor- 3 16GB-USB memory sticks! My husband manipulated me in telling the guy that I was an inductee by showing him my ticket. We end up getting 3.

All was great. Not really that much as what I was hoping. But my opinion doesn't matter. It's not my day, it's the new architects'. All I know that everyone is happy. Specially the parents, who worked as hard as the inductees. They, like Mami Sil, deserve the credit. Finally, they are now professionals ready to conquer the world . Congrats, new Architects!

Read E-books, Be E-cultured

I always love to read just about anything. When I was younger, I even read the newspaper that the smoked fish was wrapped in. I love reading and it perhaps helped me honed my English. Back in the day you have to buy paperbacks or hardbounds to study classic literature, or enjoy romance novels. That's a pain in the wallet for most of us. Then when you do have one, it's hard to read them in dim places. And they can be heavy. Nonetheless, it would be a pleasure to read before going to bed.
Then everything changes when ebooks were invented and so are mobile phones and e-readers who support them.
As what I mentioned on my previous posts, my favorite Android phone app is the Adobe PDF reader. Because of it, i am able to read known and popular books. This is free application on your Android Marketplace.
And there is an awesome website that I came upon which contains thousands of titles. It is called http://manybooks.net. Mostly it includes a wide array of classical novels; like The Sherlock Holmes series, The Art of War, i even got the English version of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, and of course, the Francess Hodgson-Burnett selection. That hits me because I grew up watching Princess Sara and Cedie on TV and they were from her books. I read A Little Princess on my MyPhone TS1Duo And it was magical. The good thing about this site is that its Project Guttenberg goal is to distribute books to many people. Basically, the titles are mostly classics and from what I read on their small print, these books are in accessible public domain after 100 years from being published. So, no worries for infringement. Thank God for the internet and Project Guttenberg. Thank God for my Android phone. It might be cheap and old but it can do what the new OS can. It let me enjoy the pleasure of reading books that I only dreamed of before. They maybe digital, stored in mini SDs, but they are still words that make up a story. Thwy vividly paint places and tell about great characters. Books do take one to places. It makes one cry like what I did when I read A Little Princess. In the end you just became cultured and knowledgeable.

Welcome 2013 ^_^

Thank God, 2013 passed through peacefully for some of us. And nothing
beats the Pinoy way of celebrating New Year.
Lucky, this time our work allowed me to take a leave from Dec 31 to
Jan 1. My husband and I decided to make Tiramisu and spaghetti then my
mother in law would add in her share. She cooks delicious food, so I
dare not compete with her.
It was hard getting graham biscuits. I had to get to another grocer for that.
I was able to finish my tiramisu. Now, for the pasta. I got ground
beef. Am I suppose to wash it? But it seperates. Oops wrong. Should
not have! I never cooked pasta independently, so this might suck. Good
thing it turned okay! Just soury with a lil bit of sweet. Very Pinoy!
Later that night, all you can hear in the neighborhood were
firecracker blasts. We live in Bulacan, home of firecrackers so
everyone has them. But i leave them lighting fireworks to others. I am
not that brave. We set up a table in the street and my husband and
our friends drank. It would be a long one of wine and chat! The closer
we get to midnight, the noisier and the lighter the sky went.
Different colors of sparkle lit up the dark sky. The only other object
who would contest them is the beautiful round moon. My Shinchan, was
so scared. He didn't like the noise and even the lights unlike his
cousins. He was so afraid of the "sawa," he clinged to me hard and
pulled me to go back to the house. Hahaha.
We ended the celebration watching THIS GUY IS IN LOVE WITH YOU, MARE
on DVD while eating our fare. Laugh while we bite. Texting love ones
and friends who are away will just be for later. Philippine phone
lines are so clogged up at this time. Now I am so full. I guess adding
some inches to your waistline can't be prevented. Haha. So much for my
diet.