I thought I'd help some of you folks out there who are currently looking to buy a digital cam..
Taken from PCMAG.com

Zeroing in on the digital camera best suited to your needs can be difficult, especially with the complex array of features and functions available. Not to worry. These 10 buying tips will help you find a camera that fits your needs, budget, and shooting style.

1. Select a digital camera with a maximum resolution that meets your largest output you're likely to want. If you want to make 8-by-10 prints, we recommend a 4-megapixel model, though a 3MP camera will do the job. A good 8-megapixel camera can take you all the way up to 16-by-20 prints. If all you want is to take pictures for e-mail or the Web, even 2MP camera will suffice. And remember, megapixels correspond only to image size, not quality.
2. Make sure the camera has the right features for your needs, such as video recording, an optical zoom lens—perhaps even manual controls and a histogram. If you wear eyeglasses but like to take pictures without them, make sure that your camera has a focusable diopter, which lets you adjust the focus of the viewfinder so you can see your subject clearly.
3. Choose a model with a bright LCD so you can see it when shooting outdoors. And make sure the screen is large enough so you can easily compose and review your images on the camera.
4. When comparing costs, don't forget to calculate the extras that may or may not be included, such as rechargeable batteries and a charger, , and a memory card with a high enough capacity to hold all your pictures until you can download them to a PC.
5. Nearly all digital cameras have a USB interface. For higher-megapixel models, try to find one that supports USB 2.0 so you can transfer large image files quickly.
6. When looking at digital cameras with a zoom lens, what counts is the optical zoom—not the digital zoom. Digital zoom is actually a software function that involves cropping and magnifying an image, resulting in a loss of image quality.
7. If you don't know an f-stop from a white balance, a digital camera that has lots of modes and manual settings will generally be overkill for your needs, as well as being higher in price and more difficult to use.
8. Look for a digital camera that comes with a pocket-size instruction manual instead of one on a CD-ROM. It's easier to consult when you're out shooting.
9. For small, young, or arthritic hands, look for a digital camera with a limited number of buttons, and make sure they're large and easy to access and press.
10. Test how fast the camera performs. You will probably be unhappy with any digital camera that takes longer than 4 seconds to boot up or longer than 6 seconds between shots.

SOME USEFUL LINKS:

• PCWorld's How To Buy A Digital Camera
• PCMag's Digital Cameras Product Guide
• ZDNET's Editor Top Cameras

SOME WORDS TO KNOW:
Megapixel A measure of a digital camera's resolution. A one-megapixel rating means that the camera can capture up to 1 million pixels, or points of data.

Pixel A point of data in a digital image; the word is short for picture element. A digital camera's resolution is a measure of the number of pixels it can capture on its image sensor.

Interpolation (I like this word) A process that increases the image file size and can occur either in your camera or by computer software. Interpolation allows a picture to be magnified but does not improve image quality and can decrease sharpness. It is the opposite of compression.

Another article from iVillage that I thought I'd share....

Women in particular seem to be conditioned to spend their entire lives chasing someone else's definition of perfection. The perfect face without wrinkles or prominent features, and a body without one dimple of cellulite! Have you ever met anyone like this? The perfect entertaining skills, where you gather the twigs and leaves you'll be gluing together for the table centerpiece prior to preparing a dinner from scratch for 12. Do you even own a glue gun? The perfect man who treats you like a queen, loves your mother and never leaves his dirty socks on the floor. Are you sure he's straight? C'mon, women ?- what 1950s sitcom are you living in? None of these scenarios resemble real life.

Think of perfection as the carrot on the end of a stick mounted to your head. You keep thinking you can grab it if you run hard enough, and sometimes you can get a little taste of it, but it's never enough. You want the whole thing, and even if you get that, right around the corner is another carrot waiting to be chased. You'll grow old and angry chasing perfection. So why bother? Wouldn't you rather spend time playing with your kids instead of mopping the kitchen floor? Wouldn't you rather look unique instead of like a mannequin? Wouldn't you rather be happy instead of perfect? I know I would, because when you're happy, everything is perfect.

Here, then, are three ways to stop chasing perfection:

• Redefine reality from what you see in the media to what you see around you in real life.
• Love your unique traits; they make you interesting to others.
• Be perfectly happy by enjoying everything you are and everything you have... every day.

:) 

the girls.. 

heheheheh 

The groom's men 

Ria & my brother 

Ladie & Geo 

I’m at the airport waiting to board. My plane doesn’t leave until 1:53pm. I attended Geo and Ladie’s wedding last Saturday. While everyone said it was one of the most sincere weddings they’ve seen, I feel like its just one of your ordinary weddings. Don't get me wrong. The wedding itself was awesome! The location and food were great and I had a really good time. But I didn't sense anything extraordinary. What the heck is wrong with me? It's as though I have lost a part of my brain that helped me feel anything more than the ordinary high's and low's. I don’t even feel bad about spending money anymore. I also don’t stress out at work. Honestly, work is starting to lose its lustre. I create things that are not important. Well, people make them look like they are important to basically make themselves look important. Because deep inside they know that what they do is nothing but crapolla. I feel like that guy in the movie Office Space. Well, its time to board. Hopefully the weather in Chicago is fine.

GO VINCE!!!!
This victory is sooo sweet since I freakin' HATE Boston Celtics - specifically Paul Pierce!!!! I thought my team was going to let me down when I saw them get trounced by Magic and then by T-wolves...live in NJ! But with the help of the mighty Vince Carter, they were able to GAIN THE FINAL SPOT just hours ago!!! GO NETS! GO NETS! GO NETS! GO NETS! GO NETS! I will definitely get some playoff tkts!!!!


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/gameupdate?gameId=250420002

MY BELOVED TEAM IS IN!!!!!!! 

Ok. I am procastinating yet again. I don't feel like doing school work right now, so I am browsing the net to get some new info/trivia/trash news, etc. Below is an interesting article from iVillage.com. My comments are in RED
4 Simple Things You Can Do to Boost Emotional Energy

Feeling drained? YES! Surprisingly, it might be your spirit -- and not your body -- that needs a jolt. "Just as physical energy comes from diet, exercise and rest, emotional energy comes from the ways you take care of yourself emotionally -- living in a way that makes you feel inspired, hopeful, self-confident, playful, loving and in touch with what you care about most," says Mira Kirshenbaum, author of The Emotional Energy Factor: The Secrets High-Energy People Use to Beat Emotional Fatigue. Letting others walk all over you or failing to do things that make you happy zaps your emotional energy -- and can leave you feeling unmotivated and even physically tired. HMMM.. To avoid such weariness, here are Kirshenbaum's four tips for boosting your emotional energy:

1. Stop living to please other people. In other words, marry the charming social worker whom you love instead of the rich doctor mom is pushing on you. BUT I'M WAITING FOR DR. KOVAC!! Move to Europe if it will make you happy, even if your girlfriends are making you feel guilty about putting distance between you. LIVE ABROAD! THAT'S AN IDEA! HOW ABOUT MOVE TO HONG KONG? BUT WAIT A MINUTE, I'M ALREADY LIVING ABROAD. Say no when someone asks you to do something you really don't want to do. Be who you want to be, do what you want to do and the rewards will be plentiful, says Kirshenbaum. "When you live your life for other people, you put out the effort, but they get the benefit," she adds. "This creates an energy drain, just the way it would if you did the work on a job and someone else got the paycheck." You'll free up energy you didn't even know you had once you quit worrying about what mom, your friends and other family members think about your decisions. HMM.. I DON'T COOK. I SELDOM CLEAN THE BATHROOM. I'M SINGLE. I THINK I GOT THIS ONE COVERED!

2. Bring positive people into your world. You need to surround yourself with people who care about and support you even in your darkest hours. Avoid those who nag, complain or involve you in their problems, says Kirshenbaum. BUT MOST WOMEN COMPLAIN. SOMETIMES ALL THEY DO IS COMPLAIN! Toxic people, who put you down to lift their own spirits, suck the life right out of you. Spending more time with those who make you feel good about yourself or inspire you in some way will revive you. Maybe it's time to start ignoring your so-called friend who leaves messages on your machine only when she needs help with something.

3. Always have something big and new on your agenda. Plan that next vacation or start writing that novel you have in your head. Looking forward to milestones and events stimulates people. It gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and that increases your desire to work toward your goals. "You gain energy from the hopes you have for your future? making your present feel more manageable, and that, too, frees up emotional energy," says Kirshenbaum. Actually putting the wheels in motion (for example, calling the travel agent, writing the outline for the book) will also make you feel better -- and excited to keep it up. I'M GOING TO HONG KONG IN JULY, GOING TO WATCH SANTANA IN JUNE, ROB THOMAS NEXT WEEKEND AND I AM FLYING TO TX THIS FRIDAY. I GOT THIS ONE DOWN!!!

4. Never live in the past. Quit dwelling on what might have happened with that old boyfriend if you had just stayed together, why you quit one job in favor of another, what would have been if you made different decisions. I THINK I'M GOING TO START CRYING NOW! :( Instead, focus on the here and now and what you need to do to move forward. Do you want to go back to school? NEVER LEFT SCHOOL Find a husband? NOPE Change careers? MAYBE Be more adventurous? MAYBE Put the spark back in your romance? N/A "You are in charge of the meaning in your life," Kirshenbaum writes in her book. Although you can't predict everything that will happen to you, you can make a flexible plan to accomplish your goals. Things like your career path, UNLESS OF COURSE I GET LAID OFF OR SOMETHING relationships in which you'd like to invest and how you would like to spend your free time are all under your control. You can decide your own destiny, an important task that will be much easier now that you have more energy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHUCHI!!!!
:) :) :) :)

I had forgotten how great this song is until I sang it the other night at a friend's karaoke bday party. There are some songs that are ok, good, but this song is one of the greatest and definitely leaves a mark...
Watch the video

Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor

It's been seven hours and fifteen days
Since u took your love away
I go out every night and sleep all day
Since u took your love away
Since u been gone I can do whatever I want
I can see whomever I choose
I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues
`Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares 2 u

It's been so lonely without u here
Like a bird without a song
Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling
Tell me baby where did I go wrong
I could put my arms around every boy I see
But they'd only remind me of you
I went to the doctor n'guess what he told me
Guess what he told me
He said girl u better try to have fun
No matter what u do
But he's a fool
`Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares 2 u

All the flowers that u planted, mama
In the back yard
All died when u went away
I know that living with u baby was sometimes hard
But I'm willing to give it another try
Nothing compares
Nothing compares 2 u
Nothing compares
Nothing compares 2 u
Nothing compares
Nothing compares 2 u

You are not your job. You are not the money in your bank account. You are not the car you drive. You are not how much money is in your wallet. You are not your fucking khakis. You are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.

We are the middle children of history, with no purpose or place. Our generation has had no Great Depression, no Great War. Our war is spiritual. Our depression is our lives.

The things you own end up owning you.
It's only after you've lost everything that you are free to do anything.

--Tyler Durden, "Fight Club"

I am watching Fight Club for the Nth time. It's great!

I need a sewing machine so I can start making my own clothes... I'm dying to get one of these ponchos/shawls, but I just can't bring myself to spend all that money for something that I can actually make... 

Wanna fall in love?
Watch Back At One by Brian McKnight

During the time of which I speak it was hard to turn the other cheek
To the blows of insecurity
Feeding the cancer of my intellect the blood of love soon neglected
Lay dying in the strength of its impurity

Meanwhile our friends we thought were so together
They've all gone and left each other in search of fairer weather
And we sit here in our storm and drink a toast
To the slim chance of love's recovery.

There I am in younger days, star gazing,
Painting picture perfect maps of how my life and love would be
Not counting the unmarked paths of misdirection
My compass, faith in love's perfection
I missed ten million miles of road I should have seen

Meanwhile our friends we thought were so together
Left each other one by one in search of fairer weather
And we sit here in our storm and drink a toast
To the slim chance of love's recovery.

Rain soaked and voice choked like silent screaming in a dream
I search for our absolute distinction
Not content to bow and bend
To the whims of culture that swoop like vultures
Eating us away, eating us away
Eating us away to our extinction

Oh how I wish I were a trinity, so if I lost a part of me
I'd still have two of the same to live
But nobody gets a lifetime rehearsal, as specks of dust we're universal
To let this love survive would be the greatest gift we could give

Tell all the friends who think they're so together
That these are ghosts and mirages, these thoughts of fairer weather
Though it's storming out I feel safe within the arms of love's discovery

-Indigo Girls

I find solace in listening to music. I turn all the lights off, light a candle or two and listen to great music through my mp3 player or laptop. With my eyes closed, I slowly take it all in - words, music, emotion. It amazes me how can some people create such magic and in some way transform everything around you into their world - in less than 4 minutes (8 if you're listening to Billy Joel). I sometimes wonder if my listenening to music is a means to escape my world. Maybe.. but there really is nothing wrong with that.

Currently listening to Cleaning Out My Closet

It was a good day and its ending just as nicely. I look forward to a very relaxing sleep and to another day full of music!

An interesting read by Ms. Aquino: Loving the life we have now

FILM LIST

Taking a break from yet another busy day at work.
It's going to be a really busy and expensive month. There are 4 birthday celebrations, one wedding, two out of town trips and one concert to go to. It's all good though. I'd rather be out and doing things rather than sitting at home doing school work or watching indie films. Hmmm... Tribeca Film Fest starts next week! I will have more reasons to go downtown other than to have sha long bao's and bubba tea!

I'm a bit sleepy now, but would like to let the world know that I finally had a hair cut!! Hey, I can't deny who I am and what I am is not one of your average, ordinary long haired gals.. :)

we might kiss
when we are alone
when nobody’s watchin’
we might take it home
we might make out
when nobody's there
it's not that we're scared
it's just that it's delicate

so why d’ya fill my sorrow
with the words you've borrowed
from the only place you've known
why d’ya sing hallelujah
if it means nothin’ to ya
why d’ya sing with me at all?

we might live
like never before
when there's nothin’ to give
how can we ask for more?
we might make love
in some sacred place
that look on your face
is delicate

so why d’ya fill my sorrow
with the words you've borrowed
from the only place you've known
why d’ya sing hallelujah
if it means nothin’ to ya
why d’ya sing with me at all?
watch the video

I miss my old hairstyle!!!!!  

[my mother is starting to piss me off again. it never fails. everytime we communicate we always argue. but i love her just the same. i have learned to accept our differences and that we will never see eye to eye. ]

family
there are some people i know who are closer to their friends than their families. they value their relationships with friends more than with their own blood. i can understand that. just because we are related to someone does not mean that we need to like them. "Family isnt always what youre born with— sometimes its the people you find, sometimes its the people who find you."

i, on the other hand, love my family. though there were times when i wished for all kinds of things other than what i had, i still am proud to be part of my messed up familia. hey, i wouldn't be who i am now if not for the craziness i had to survive growing up.

friends
i have a hard time making new friends. sometimes i think its because i don't have time for friends or that i am very selective. other times i think its because i can't trust people easily. but in reality, its really because i don't need new friends. i am ok with the handful of real friends that i have.

Hmm.. My horoscope did come true. Only I was the one who thought about the trip (what else is new?) :) My brother and I are flying to Hong Kong in July to meet my family and then head straight to Manila. It will be a blast!!

Yeah, I know I said horoscopes are bull crap...They are, but I wasn't doing anything interesting for lunch today so I was compelled to check out my horoscope for today from msn.com. I like this one... To the horoscope gods, I hope this one comes true!

Some close friends, or perhaps your romantic partner, may suddenly propose taking a trip together - definitely by air, and possibly to a distant state or country. You like to be spontaneous dear Aquarius, and are therefore open to the possibility and ready to make definite plans. Make sure, however, that the others involved are really serious about it before you charge on ahead. In the evening: Attend a lecture, concert or play.

I'm meeting a few friends tonight for sushi. I will definitely have a couple of drinks to go with it. Thank goodness the day is almost over! Oh and... ER tonight at 10!

Lord, please help me get through this day!!!! I'm going to freakin' die and disappear into thin air!!! My head hurts! I can't think! And it's only 4:03 pm!!!!!!!!!ARGGGGGGHHHHH!!!

The man of my dreams. :)

Let's talk this over
It's not like we're dead
Was it something I did?
Was it something you said?
Don't leave me hangin'In a city so dead
Held up so high
On such a breakable thread
You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be
You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it,
And all of our memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending
Listen
Avril Lavigne

Take A Listen

I've got a right to be wrong
My mistakes will make me strong
I'm stepping out into the great unknown
I'm feeling wings though I've never flown
Got a mind of my own
I'm flesh and blood to the bone
I'm not made of stone
Got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone

I've got a right to be wrong
I've been held down too long
I've got to break free
So I can finally breathe
Got THE right to be wrong
Got to sing my own song
I might be singing out of key
But it sure feels good to me
Got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone

You're entitled to your opinion
But it's really my decision
I can't turn back I'm on a mission
If you care don't you dare blur my vision
Let me be all that I can be
Don't smother me with negativity
Whatever's out there waiting for me
I'm going to face it willingly

I find reading horoscopes kindof funny and interesting at the same time. Sometimes I want to believe its partly true, but most often I just find it amusing. I know there are lots of people out there who believe in them, but you won't see me jumping on that bandwagon any time soon. Let's analyze my horoscope for today.

From Yahoo.com
"Sure, you've been excessive for days, in one way or another -- and possibly in several. But you're not quite ready to rein it all in. Not just yet. What you are ready for is to let all those secrets you've been hiding come right out into the open, with no holds barred. Before you do, though, is there anyone you should warn first -- in private? If so, you'd better get a hold of them now."
Hmmm... I've been excessive for days? Excessive on what? Sleeping? Eating? Yeah, I guess I've been sleeping and eating quite excessively for days now. "Let those secrets I've been hiding come right out into the open"... Oh, my! I guess I should let the world know that I am a superhero!!!
THIS IS BULL CRAP!

From MSN.com
"It may be time for you to go back to school to get another degree in your field, or to begin studying a completely new field. One thing is for sure: you are ready for a change. You likely have not been progressing at work as quickly as you'd like. It's not due to your lack of ability, but may be because of a poor fit with your employer. A change of jobs would do you good, though a change of careers would be even better for you, dear Aquarius."
Wow! This I can actually relate to. I am definitely in some kind of a weird place at work. I can't quite figure out what's wrong, but something definitely is. Is it because of "a poor fit with my employer"? Change of careers..... Hmm....
YET ANOTHER BULL CRAP!!

I feel so lazy today! I have tons of work to do, but just have no energy to do any of them. Maybe its because I had half a muffin for breakfast and a quarter serving of baked ziti for lunch. I feel cranky too. :( I almost fell asleep while listening to myself talk during my team's weekly call at work. I hope I don't get sick... Maybe I'm bored. Maybe I'm depressed. My eyes feel so tired.

What if I was good to you
What if you were good to me
What if I could hold you
'Til I feel you move inside of me
What if it was paradise
What if we were symphonies
What if I gave all my life to
Find some way to stand beside you
-RT

But I won't do any of those things cause I'm scared.
I'm scared to feel, scared to fall.. scared to lose.
I can almost feel how good it would be if I give in to you.
If I give in to me.
I close my eyes and all I can see is you.
Part of you I take everywhere I go.
Why can't I just let go and let you in?
Let me into you.
-ME
--------------------
there’s still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
there’s still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
it’s still a little hard to say what's going on
there’s still a little bit of your ghost your witness
there’s still a little bit of your face i haven't kissed
you step a little closer each daythat i can’t say what's going on
stones taught me to flylove taught me to lie
life, it taught me to die
so it's not hard to fall
when you float like a cannonball
-DR

lube 

HAIR
I've been experimenting with my hair lately. I am dying to get a haircut, but I have sworn to myself that I'm going to let it grow. Now, I basically wear headbands, clips and all other hair crapolla to make it look somewhat ok.

view from my window..this webcam sucks! 

LAZY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.. I'm hungry! I haven't gone outside all day. I did some intense workout earlier.. I definitely need something to eat now.

lazy Saturday afternoon... Listening to music while trying to do some school work. Do I look like I haven't taken a shower yet???

It's raining out.. I like it when it rains. The smell of rain relaxes me - reminds me of home...
I took my brother and sis out Friday night to watch Guess Who and have junk food - KFC. I am not sure if they understood most of the racial issues tackled in the movie. If they didn't, I am sure they will soon enough.
It was a good movie I should say. I'm surprised I liked it since it is a comedy-romance movie. The type that I most often dislike.