Here's My Ride!

This is my van. The MITSUBISHI Space Gear DELICA Executive Edition. With power windows and locks it has been the easiest to drive in the streets of Manila. Best of all it is automatic. Whenever I have some travels in the outskirts of the city and climb steep hills the 4x4 function works perfectly and I don't have to put my foot on the gas pedal anymore. The gears are also the best since it can be adjusted to the terrain you are currently on. I love traveling with this because I have never felt so good and light even if I am handling a bigger vehicle. One drawback though is it doesn't have a van roof rack. I had to put in my bags and clothes inside even if I had guests so imagine how humiliating it felt sometimes when I have to do that.

I was trying to look for options locally but quality wise it was not a really a good thing to do. I am trying the best ones in the market and for sure I am gunning for the brands that are already proven to work. I like this one in particular because it will fit perfectly on my mountain bikes and luggage. When I go outdoors it would be the best thing to have but I don't want the others to load up their stuff on mine. It's just the right size and it fits the purpose. THULE is a good buy and it's so nice to know they are available in on line stores. I would really look for this and get one soon!

I'm Voting for Noynoy...

So it's out! I am voting Noynoy Aquino officially. It was somewhat a split between him, Dick Gordon and Manny Villar. Just like most Filipinos I was really undecided initially but just this week I found 2 things that turned me off with the other candidates. I know, I admit that I do not know that much of Mr. Aquino Jr. other than him being the son of the late president, the late Ninoy, and the serious brother of Ms. Kris. I researched a bit and found his concept of being a law maker. He's right about one thing... we already have too many laws. Was he a performer?! His constituents think so... if the people thought so and felt it then it means he did a good job. I have seen Las Pinas where Villar ruled for quite some time. I never got to like that place. I don't know, I just felt it was dry and dirty all around. Some establishments and buildings are built but if you look at the ones beside it, most of them are closed shops. I don't even know what they are famous for aside from the Bamboo Organ. Aside from that, nada!

Gordon did a pretty good job in Subic, let's give that to him. But the time he was interviewed by Mike Enriquez one morning when I was in a cab, it just came to me. He went on exposing a couple of heads but he did not mention their names. Why on freakin sakes would you do that on election eve?! So you would look good and the others won't.... that is just lame. That is so elementary.

I want to vote for Noynoy Aquino and give him the chance to make major changes in the system. I want change... and I want it to be spearheaded by a leader who believes he can make the change happen with the help of the people of this country. One who still believes he can do it.

The Better Alternative: Affordable Eyeglasses

I arrived late in the office because I was not feeling well this evening. I work on the graveyard shift because I have to be in the same time zone as my bosses in the US. Yesterday I had to finish a couple of reports that would require me to look at 20 spreadsheets with purely numbers on it. I had to even make a couple graphs out of that. It took me several hours to finish it but I was quite impressed at my work. Later on, I got tired and decided to sleep since I was doing these reports at home. My eyes were a little red and obviously strained from looking at the computer monitor the whole day. My laptop did not have glare protection on it and I did not have a choice. I already have some small problems in the left eye as my ophthalmologist said and the last thing I want to do is worsen it. He was asking me to get prescription glasses but he told me it is going to cost me around two thousand pesos just for the frame alone. The lenses would need five hundred more and these are not even bifocals. I was looking for other alternatives since it is quite expensive if we get it from the hospital. The #1 online Rx glasses store ZENNI came to mind when we deliberated where to get one. My eye doctor was not that into on line stuff and I suggested he read off information about the store since WIFI was available in their office. Picked up my BLACKBERRY and browsed through Eric's Review of Zenni Optical. He got the point and told me he's suggesting the same thing for his other patients who may not be able to afford the expensive ones the hospital forces them to buy. It was a good thing I got to chat about that with him because after that, he's going to be able to help a lot of people.

I like Eric's explanation on why we are going to saving a lot with this kind of purchase because we get to see the benefits on how to eliminate the middle man. It is so simple yet you know why there are some glasses and eye wear that cost a lot these days. I suggested this store to my Mom too who has been wearing glasses for quite some time now. If it would only cost a couple of dollars for the frames, she probably would get one if her old pair wears out. The Lowest Price Progressive Glasses are already available with ZENNI and if the doctor would suggest soon that I get contact lenses, I would beg off and go for the classic frames that ZENNI has.

Photo Workflow

I did a couple of layouts earlier and it seems that I have succeeded in a few but the others were just plain Jane. I specifically love the one with the COOL blue palette and this guy in shades. This shot above also was kinda neat because it feels like he almost popped up from the picture. I got the walls repainted painstakingly because I was not happy with the way it looked initially and since it had chips and uneven colors on it I got the clone option and dredged it until it looked natural. Aside from that, I also took the color balance and maxxed out reds and yellows and darkened some spots here and there to give it a more believable ambiance. The contrast on the shirt was done so the blackness would become deeper and I think we succeeded in doing that. A little directional light was rendered so it would have that slight black shadow on the sides aka vignette. Pretty neat actually.

I want the skins to be white and on some instances I get a little OC'd when it is not smooth. So I did a couple of things to cure the uneven colors on the skin. It may appear over exposed but it is actually not because the guy's skin tone was really pale white. He even has color on this one so give me a break LOL. Some of them like it and some of them don't but its okay I was just experimenting anyway. What matters most is that I achieve some sort of shangrila when I look at it. At least I am not just shooting plain photos like the rest of them right?! My mantra is to be like Xander Angeles and experience more layouts so I am trying it out now. =)