Mac Studio Fix

Not everybody is a natural beauty, and that's ok, so said Chris Crocker in his YouTube video entitled Make-up is my friend !

So what do mere mortals like us do when we're not bestowed with natural beauty as defined by the "billion dollar fashion industry?" Well, we make ourselves up. With make-up. Now they say that make-up is just to enhance our appearance, and that what really matters is inner beauty. Well, I don't have inner beauty, so I'll deal with my outer beauty instead, thank you very much.

The foundation of a great outer beauty is well, foundation. I have been using Revlon lately (given to me by a dear friend) and when I could already see the metal base of my cake foundation, it was time for me to buy a new one. My new favorite mall did not carry the product so I had to settle for whatever was there lest I am unable to find a store which carries Revlon and risk running out of my foundation. The horror! I'd rather have a shortage of oxygen than my precious foundation.

So that's how I found M.A.C. My other friends were already using M.A.C. but it was kinda expensive for me. And I felt that it was a little bit heavy for everyday use since I was under the impression that M.A.C. is leaning towards the professional cosmetics market.

Well, I decided to try it and just scratch it off as a lesson learned if I do not like it. I was assisted by this girl who had the most incredible green eyeshadow which reminded me of a peacock. I asked her who did it, and I was quite surprised when she said she do her own make-up. Okay, 10 points for expertise. I told her I was looking for a cake foundation, and without hesitation, she gave me shade no. nc40. Okay, another 10 points for product knowledge. She applied it to me and told me that this shade was perfect for me. At that point, since she only applied it to a small part on my lower right cheek, I honestly couldn't tell. It was barely visible. Of course being the fussy buyer that I was, I asked for shades a tone lighter and a tone darker than the one she suggested so that I can make a comparison. She willingly obliged and applied both shades on my face. And there it was. I can now see the subtle differences between the three shades. Impressive.

I got it and paid at the counter. I noticed how the other girls there all had these incredible eyeshadow in varying colors and shades that seemed to be their uniform. When I got home, I tried it on. I was again amazed at how light it felt on my face. And when I looked at the mirror, it was truly invisible. Like I never put any of it on.

To test a foundation, I always use a camera and take a picture of myself to see what it looks like on film. I also needed to check if there will be a noticeable line between my face and my neck. I don't need my face to look like it was pasted on my neck due to contrasting colors.

Well, I wouldn't be gushing about my M.A.C. foundation if I didn't get the results I wanted, albeit being unexpected. I simply looked flawless without looking like I had any make-up on. Pores disappeared and best of all, I could wear it daily. No irritation whatsoever. I'm happy with it, and the camera loves it. I feel confident with my natural beauty now more than ever so the price is so worth it.

Jenny Humphrey: The girl I love to hate

If you are a fan of CWs tv show Gossip Girl, then you'll know what the ride has been for Jenny hanging out with the Upper East Side elite. I really didn't like her during the first season, and the second season seems to be no better.

She was that desperate lil girl wanting so much to fit in with the it crowd. Blair promptly took advantage of her and devised schemes to make her realize time and again that she is not Upper East Side material. Being the pawn that she is, Jenny just cant take a hint and even lied about making out with a closeted gay guy (who she eventually outed) just to be part of their crowd.

Season 2 now focuses on Jenny, the school drop out. Wanting so much to prove that she can make it as a fashion designer, she first turned down an offer for internship with another designer, instead sticking with Eleanor Waldorf and eventually quitting to start her own line.

Several times have I screamed and wanted to strangle her. Don't do it! What the hell are you doing?! Say it, say it! What in the world is wrong with you??? are some of my favorite expressions when it comes to Jenny. Arggh, I cant even stand her new look, I mean what's up with the hair? And how many sticks of eyeliner did you have to put on to prove a point that you're a rebel? Now you're falling for Nate? C'mon!

I wonder which crowd the writers are trying to win over with a character like Jenny Humphrey? And what lessons can we gather from Jenny? Let's do a review, shall we? To the young, aspiring fashion designers - drop out from school; hang out with shady characters to make it big; crash social events to showcase your designs. To little sisters everywhere - don't listen to your parents; make out with your brother's best friend. To all social climbers - steal expensive clothes; hang out with gay socialites.

Nice, very nice. So Jenny, I sincerely hope that you make it big. Just drop the eyeliner. I get your point.

P.S. Nate is rumored to get Jenny pregnant. OMFG! -Blair.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

I'm quite excited about the upcoming sequel of DreamWorks animated film Madagascar, set to be released anytime this month (07 Nov in the US). Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa picks up where the first one left off, where everybody was trying to get back to New York. The four main characters Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) are back, together with the penguins and the lemurs from the first film. This time, they will find themselves in Africa - where they were supposed to be shipped to in the first place - and encounter species of their own kind for the very first time

My favorite character was the hypochondriac Melman the Giraffe voiced by David Schwimmer. And the penguins. I was so lol during that scene when the four penguins successfully escape to Antarctica and found it to suck, and left after being there for a few moments. Although one can't help but be reminded of Ross from Friends hearing David's voice and all that, but in all fairness, I think that's what his character is all about. It was so funny when he dug up his own grave and wrote his last will and testament on the sand, only to be washed away by the waves.

I don't know why critics didn't love it the way I did. It was fresh, funny and produced great visuals. Moreover, the characters were cute without being cheesy. True, it may not be the Shrek that everybody's so crazy about, but it can't be all Shrek all the time. Somebody's gotta think up of new storylines and I believe that DreamWorks delivered.

So I'm heading down to the movies to catch their Escape 2 Africa. I saw the trailers and the scene alone where they were crashing and King Julien said it was more fun when you raise your hands is enough to make me wanna watch it.

Shrink test for future Catholic priests?

The Vatican has recently issued a document urging candidates for the Catholic priesthood to undergo psychological tests to screen out heterosexuals unable to control their sexual urges and men with strong homosexual tendencies. As per the Vatican, these tests are not obligatory but are resorted to on a case-by-case basis when seminary rectors wanted to be sure if the candidate is qualified for the priesthood. It did not indicate at which point of theological studies the candidate is to be examined, but from the wording of the Vatican document, I suppose it could be anytime.

Now I gather that the basis for the issuance of this document is because of a sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church six years ago and the effects thereof. So what happens to those found out to be incapable of leading celibate lives, or those capable of abusing their authority by sexual means? Expulsion or a ban from being a priest, I guess. The report only mentions screening out these candidates and does not mention sanctions or further action on the part of the Church, if any. And when asked why a man with homosexual tendencies could not become a priest as opposed to a man with heterosexual tendencies, the head of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski said that homosexuality was "a deviation, an irregularity and a wound" that would not allow a priest to fulfill his mission properly.

I would have been happy if it ended on the part which says candidates with strong, uncontrollable sexual urges. I am having quite a difficulty understanding why sexuality is an issue in the first place. Hello, priests are supposed to be celibate. Cardinal G's stand on homosexuality in the clergy is a fallacy which leads to my conclusion that a priest with a sexual orientation is a deviation by itself. You can't have a sexual orientation if you have devoted yourself to a lifetime of jacking off.

It is simple, really. I don't know why they have to drag some gay shit issue into this. Celibacy means no sex. You want sex or cannot control the urge to have sex, don't be a priest. Be it towards an altar boy, or a nun, or whatever the fuck it is that you're yearning for, if you can't control it, get out. That should be the purpose of those tests. No more, no less.

So why not stop there? Uncontrollable sexual urges. Period.

Proposition 8 approved

The Constitution of the State of California now prohibits gay marriages after the 2008 General Election ballot approved Proposition 8 which amended the provisions thereof to specifically state that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

Now I did not talk about Proposition 8 in previous blogs because it was a non-issue for me. Aside from the fact that I'm not from California, I had all the while believed that it was NOT going to be passed. I mean c'mon, it's California, for crying out loud. Imagine my surprise when news came out that Proposition 8 passed.

Proponents of the amendment argue that marriage has to be protected at all costs, and must be between a man and a woman since the primary responsibility of the family is to procreate. This argument ignores the very nature of a marriage contract - that it is a contract. The gay agenda is not just about commitment and warmth and affection between two loving gay individuals to be recognized, nor is it just about equal protection among homosexuals and heterosexuals alike, but also equal protection among themselves. How can gay couples exercise these rights without a valid marriage in the first place? Read: divorce. True, gay couples cannot procreate without any sort of intervention by a third party as compared to that of heterosexuals, but procreation naturally occurs with or without marriage, or haven't these people noticed? From biblical times up to present, who ever said that marriage is required in order for humanity to continue to exist? Again, the procreation argument overlooks the fact that a marriage is a contract. It is an agreement between two individuals thus giving them inalienable rights that the law has to recognize. These rights are what gay couples are after. I agree with Apple when it voiced out its opposition to Proposition 8, that it is a fundamental civil rights issue. Note that it mentioned that it is not just a civil rights issue, but a fundamental one. The gay rights movement is beyond crying out and condemning discrimination. That was some 30 or 40 years back. What it is seeking out are those fundamental civil rights that are supposedly accorded all citizens under the equal protection clause.

Another issue arises from this constitutional amendment. What happens to the status of married gay couples in California? Under the US Constitution, ex post facto laws are prohibited which means that a subsequent law cannot retroactively apply to change the legal consequences of acts committed or the legal status of facts and relationships that existed prior to the enactment of that law. Since the California Supreme Court had ruled that gay marriages are legal, the subsequent passing of Proposition 8 cannot retroactively apply to invalidate those marriages entered into by gay couples who in good faith were acting under the rule of the law. Take note that Supreme Court rulings have the force and effect of law.

Tall Coffee

I've always wondered how can a small cup of coffee be called "tall!?" I know people by now are used to ordering their voguish Starbucks drink, with impeccable knowledge of blends and brews, but did it ever cross their minds that “small” is the opposite of “tall?"

This is just one of those screwed up ideas perpetuated by the Starbucks propaganda. Renaming a size of a cup of coffee so that people won't feel bad that they just paid top dollar for what, a cup of coffee? Don't get me wrong, I am a Starbucks fan but I am a fan of coffee even more. Misleading people that its OK to order a $5 cup of coffee because of the sophistication that comes with it is forgivable - its called marketing. But when quality is compromised and more and better choices are laid on the table, one can't help but think am I getting what I paid for?

What exactly are you paying for when ordering a Starbucks coffee? Starbucks aims to offer a haven or a place away from home or office. It offers WiFi connectivity in most stores worldwide, free electricity, mood lighting, soothing music (caveat: soothing may be subjective here) and super comfortable chairs that makes you uncomfortable for that very reason. So its really not the coffee per se but the experience it offers.

But ultimately, its the coffee that we go there for (well, for me anyway). I don't understand why one has to understand the mind-boggling preparation involved in making a drinkable cup out of it. What I need Starbucks to do for me is when I smell coffee and order one, they should give me that cup of coffee. Coffee which has no under taste, not watery and strong enough to jumpstart my much needed caffeine fix for the day. If other people needs to order a complicated drink, they should have a separate lane for them. Starbucks needs to have some sort of an express lane where all you have to say is "I need coffee, give me a cup."

So now, Starbucks is scrambling to get its ass back on track after the phenomenal U.S. expansion had since dwindled and led to layoffs and closure of stores . Expansion is now targeted in foreign markets where demand for the product and the brand continues to rise. Good for us. It would be us the consumers who will benefit from a healthy competition being given to Starbucks. As for the Starbucks loyalists, well just ask yourselves when was the last time you ordered a Tall Caramel Macchiato and got a small one?

How an Obama administration will affect me

Yes, you're reading it right. I also have some point of view on politics. This issue is appropriate as it would appear that Mr. Obama is winning. Let me point out though that I am a McCain supporter. Although I am not a US citizen, ergo not a voter, I had been thinking how the outcome of the 2008 US presidential elections will affect me. After all, news on this matter is clogging my homepage and I had been getting emails about it so in a way, it already has affected me. Much to my chagrin.

First off, war in Iraq would end. Obama has always opposed the policies of the incumbent Bush on Iraq and has proposed a redeployment of US troops stationed there. I think this is the single biggest issue that affects the rest of the world as this would stabilize oil prices coming from the Middle East. Do note that the reason for invasion of Iraq was to disarm it of its alleged weapons of mass destruction, though none had been found there. Legality of this invasion has been questioned thus affects all peace-loving countries. I believe that Obama's stand on the Iraq policy could be the reason why he is popular even abroad. If a country suddenly decides to declare war against another, I have every reason to be concerned as that other country could be mine.

Next is his immigration policies. He has supported immigration policy reforms and is in favor of improving the US visa programs. He believes in earned pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants and in fact has supported granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. This would in turn create more job opportunities for those immigrants and help their respective families, both in and out of the US. More talent will pour into the US as immigration policies become more clear-cut and comprehensive, but I doubt if this is for the good of the country being left by the talent. The reason I am hesitant to migrate to the US is because of its long and burdensome immigration rules - crap that I don't need. If these rules change for the better, I might think about migrating there. For now, I am happy where I am.

As regard his foreign trade policies, nothing new there. Same old US policy on fair trade which is really not fair at all. What caught my eye as I was browsing through his website was his policy on trade bulleted as: End Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas. We know that Asia has been tapped by American giants such as Nike and the US I.T. industry for cheap labor. And we know how those companies are capitalizing on lower wages abroad. Obama does not believe in tax deductions for those companies moving their operations overseas. How it will affect these Asian countries remains to be seen in the long run. Having been employed by one of those companies that outsourced its employees, I know how such US investments had helped generate thousands of jobs and if pulled out, would create a sudden rise in the unemployment rate in these countries.

Since official results are not yet completed, lets wait in joyful hope that this time around, American policies could bring about real change as promised by both major candidates. Either way, whoever wins will inherit a global financial crisis on his hands and an unpopular war to boot. All I can say is, good luck with your new job, Mr. President.

iOwn iPhone

After crossing over from PC to Mac a few months back, I now officially consider myself an Apple whore. So when a telcom here carried the 3G version of the iPhone, of course I had to have it. I haven't had the chance to get the iPhone when it was originally released since it was only available in the US then. I didn't want to get a jailbroken device because 1. its illegal 2. price was absurd 3. no warranty and 4. lack of features. Steve Jobs promised a load of new features with the 3G iPhone and price was lower than the previous gen, plus many of my friends were getting one (or two, as the case may be) so ok, Im getting one. Im still keeping my Sony Ericsson though.

This is not a geek review since I would have no authority to discuss geek stuff. I'd rather talk about how it feels holding it and the overall experience I've had since I got it. First on the list is the price. I don't have a problem signing up for a 2-year plan just to get it. What many people have an issue with is the price of the plan itself since in the long run, they say it is expensive. There is no denying that. The iPhone is not really for the mass market, I think, in spite of its lower price compared to other similar devices. Just a year ago, the Nokia N95 was double the price of the iPhone, at the same plan. Its just that you can also get a Nokia phone without being forced to sign up for a 2-year plan. Oh well.

The iPhone 3G's design is flawless. The curves on its sides are giving the impression that its thinner than it actually is. Its not heavy and the size fits perfectly in my hands. What can I say, Apple has mastered the art in designing its products. The screen resolution is amazing. I have already watched several Youtube videos and it delivered the quality I was expecting. The full multi-touch screen can be quite unnerving for those not used to it, but its pretty much straightforward. Push the screen up if you want it to go up and vice versa. Zoom in or zoom out by either spreading two fingers across the screen or pinching them back. Besides, I've been known to lose stylus pens in the past so this is a welcome change for me. Sending SMS can be a challenge though. The keys may be larger than the previous generation iPhone, but its not for Edward. The predictive text input is not helping at all and is rather annoying. Im not sure yet how to turn it off, but I don't think there's an option for that.

Perhaps the best thing about the iPhone 3G is the third-party applications. If only I can get them. It appears that before any application can be downloaded, you have to have an iTunes account first, which means you have to register and give your credit card information to them. Even if you are downloading a free application. Yes, even if its free. I have no intention of giving any such information to them. So Im stuck with my iPhone without any cool applications in it.

Overall, its a great device and a cool-looking phone. It's a must-have for me, but still I'm keeping my Sony Ericsson with me.

The Metrosexual

Its payday and what better to do on a Saturday than shop. I woke up early, as in - 10:00 a.m. early - and went to the mall. I was planning to buy a new pair of shoes, and there's this tennis plimsoll from Fred Perry that I was so craving for for a long time now. Every time I went to the Fred Perry store, it was always with somebody else who would immediately point out that I dont have enough space in my shoe rack to put it in, or I wouldn't be able to wear it since I still have other shoes that I haven't even worn yet. Plus its not cheap. For me, anyway. But this time, Im going there alone. So I sneaked out of the house but when I got there, there were no stocks in the color that I wanted. Arrgh! I can smell a conspiracy going on. It was raining heavily so I was too lazy to go to another mall. Plus I only had a pair of slippers on and I hated to get my feet wet. So there I was undecided as to where to go, or what to buy instead. When I passed by the cosmetics section, I saw this incredibly cute guy manning the Jean Paul Gaultier booth. So I went over to him thinking to myself whatever he's selling, I'm buying. Damn his nose, why does it have to be so straight? Im not, so no surprise here. My strategy was to pass by him as if I didn't notice him and just wait for him to call my attention. Which was exactly what happened. Piece of cake. When he said hi, I turned to look at him wearing my celebrated facial expression, the why-are-you-bothering-me-cant-you-see-im-busy look that could make Miranda Priestly proud. He then showed me the Le Male line of products and to make the long story short, I bought a gift set and got his number. What really caught my attention was the bronzer for men, aptly called Better Than Tan Moisturizing Bronzer. I know that there's this whole niche in the market the fashion industry is referring to as the metrosexual, but it made me think am I one? Does being gay automatically classify you as a metrosexual, or does being gay automatically excludes you from being one? Just how big is this market and what influence does it have in the fashion industry? I googled the word and the first thing that came up was Wikipedia's definition, which states that "Metrosexual is neologism of the 2000s generally applied to heterosexual men with a strong concern for their appearance, or whose lifestyles display attributes stereotypically attributed to gay men." So there you go, ladies. This pretty much clear things up, or maybe not. They used to label David Beckham as the metrosexual icon. Ok. But I read somewhere that Ryan Seacrest has also been referred to as such. Not ok. Metrosexuals are straight, or supposed to be. Be that as it may, metrosexuality is not really a signifier of gender but more on preferences with respect to fashion and lifestyle on account of its deviation from the traditional masculine norms. So David and Ryan may really have one thing in common after all.

I so love Mark Simpson's definition of the word archived in Salon.com: "The typical metrosexual is a young man with money to spend, living in or within easy reach of a metropolis – because that's where all the best shops, clubs, gyms and hairdressers are. He might be officially gay, straight or bisexual, but this is utterly immaterial because he has clearly taken himself as his own love object and pleasure as his sexual preference. Particular professions, such as modeling, waiting tables, media, pop music and, nowadays, sport, seem to attract them but, truth be told, like male vanity products and herpes, they're pretty much everywhere."

My take is, its just a great and effective marketing strategy which brought upon a whole new market and is in fact called by Simpson as the most promising consumer market of the decade.

Postscript: I found this definition of the word metrosexual in Uncyclopedia. It said "A Metrosexual is the slang term for a person who is sexually excited by public transit." I literally rolled on the floor laughing.