Chicago 2016

This is not an excuse for being aloof for the past weeks/months. But to make up for my absences, I'm sharing to you this website (which is just in time for the ongoing Beijing Olympics).

Just some pieces of FAQ:

Q:What is the Chicago 2016 Bid Committee?
A: The Chicago 2016 Bid Committee ("Chicago 2016") is a 501(c)3 corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Chicago. Chicago 2016's Board comprises business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Its honorary chairmen are Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Patrick Ryan serves as chairman and CEO.

Q:Where will the Olympic events be held?
A: Washington Park will be the site of the Olympic Stadium, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies and the track & field events.

The stadium will be an 80,000-seat temporary facility that will be converted, post-Games, into a 5,000-capacity venue (with expansion capability), well-suited to host local, national and international athletics events. It may also be used as an amphitheater capable of hosting cultural events that are so important to this city.

Chicago 2016 is currently working on site plans for the additional events, which will include McCormick Place as the host of 11 competition venues.

Q:Who else is competing for the 2016 Olympic Games?
A: Now that Chicago has been selected as the U.S. Bid City, the competition for the 2016 Games Host City enters the international phase.

International cities competing for the 2016 Olympic Games were officially announced on September 14, 2007, and include: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Madrid, Spain; Prague, Czech Republic; Tokyo, Japan; Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; and Chicago, IL, USA.

Q:Is traffic and transportation a concern?
A: Chicago's extensive rail, transit, and motorways infrastructure, combined with the world-class O'Hare and Midway International airports, make Chicago one of the most accessible cities for local residents and International visitors.

While we are still in the early stages of planning, smooth transportation for athletes, spectators and the citizens of Chicago going about daily lives is one of the Chicago 2016's highest priorities. Detailed plans will be available in the future.Website: Chicago 2016

...interesting. But oh well...who cares?!? Only God knows where I would be in 2016. Let's just set this aside from now.

We're moving!

Whew..tired..tired...and tired. I just came from work, started packing our things and finally finished loading our stuff in the car. We're finally moving to an aparment somewhere in Mount Prospect, IL tomorrow. Can you believe it...that we haven't seen the apartment and yet we're transferring already? Oh yes. We had no choice. We had no time left..because I'll be driving towards Indiana on Monday morning.

I just hope that our apartment will just be fine. This was referred to me by a friend I knew through the Chicago thread in Pinoyexchange. By tomorrow, we'll be neighbors and we'll do the weekly grocery together.

I'm just hoping for a peaceful and enjoyable life in this new apartment and neighborhood.

P.S. I just heard there's a nearby Pinoy store. That is really a plus!

Panning

This is already a late post. I actually already posted this in my Multiply account. I have cross-posting activated however, for the reason I don't know, this post did not come through this blogger account.

Another topic in Photography that I'm somehow struggling (you might be wondering what topic I master...well, actually, none. I'm actually a "Jill of all trade, master of none!") is the PANNING.

Practicing panning I can say, can be really fun but somehow also frustrating. There's really no specific technique on how to do it but I can say that you really need PATIENCE in this attempt. Once you master the skills of doing it, you will be able to produce amazing results.

I really love panning shots! It really depicts motion and action. You don't just see still photos -- pictures become moving objects in your naked eye.

As I will quote one of the websites I usually visit: "The basic idea behind panning as a technique is that you pan your camera along in time with the moving subject and end up getting a relatively sharp subject but a blurred background."

As for the outputs of my first attempt, I was very glad that I produced "considered good (for me)" results in my 1st and 3rd shots in a row of continuous shooting. I did not expect that I would be able to produce these shots. We were just walking along Magnificent Mile in N. Michigan Ave and I spotted an oncoming bus. I pulled my camera and began shooting every vehicle... I was then surprised to see these 2 favorites:




Looking at my outputs, I think I need some more tweaking to be done. But so far, I'm pretty satisfied. I have in mind some other interesting subjects to shoot for Panning... let's see... :)

Las Angelitas

We're here now in Los Angeles, California. We arrived Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007, 10:28am (L.A. Time). Hmm... almost all of my friends asked me these questions in their IM/call: "How's L.A. compared to Chicago?" Actually, I'm still in the process of comparing the two. I will take this opportunity to answer this question so by the time I get back to Chicago, I hopefully will no longer hear this question:

(1) The ratio of Filipino: Non-Filipino is probably, 5:1. This is the number one difference I noted. Wherever we go, I can always recognize familiar language. It feels like I'm not in America...parang nasa Dubai din kami... which really feels good. In Chicago, I'm craving for Filipinos, haaarrr... bwahahaha!
(2) Because of #1, filipino stores sprouted here, there and everywhere! You will never miss Filipino goods here... where in Chicago you will unlikely find filipino stores... at least within our suburb.
(3) The roads are much nicer to drive. Although they have bigger lanes, their roads are more clear. (Andaming lubak lubak sa Chicago!)
(4) The best of all -- They have no snow! This is the number 1 aspect that I really enjoy. I can just wear rubber shoes (not boots), 2 layers of clothing, and I can go outside without ear muffs and gloves. The temp here feels like summer in Chicago.
(5) Houses are not made of concrete. I don't know how they call that bldg material, but it's a non-concrete. The reason being is because california is very prone to earthquake.
(6) But I find the people in Chicago much nicer. You can build friendship in train stations, trains, buses... wherever you go. Here in LA, it seems that people do their own thing.
(7) And of course... the shopping is cheaper! Although most of the brands here also exist in Chicago... LA has more thrifty stores which you will not find in Chicago. Hopefully, I will find more in the days to come!

So far, those are the only things that I observed. And so far, I am still enjoying the place. Our first stop was the Hollywood and Kodak Theatre...Yes, with all the stars and name imprints along the street. I had fun watching and taking pictures with the different hollywood "costumed" characters... but the sad part is you have to pay them for taking picture of them or with them. So, I was acting like a paparazzi when I was taking pictures of them... :(

Yesterday, we watched "I am Legend" in Burbank City and did again some shopping. We're scheduled to go to Las Vegas on 27th and 28th then proceed to Disneyland on 29th and Universal Studios on 30th. Other than that, we have no plans yet. So, I'm really looking forward for the days to come. I've been wanting this kind of vacation...eventhough it means having empty pockets when we go back to Chicago.

Merry Christmas to all and may we have a prosperous new year ahead of us!

Here are just some of our pictures:

With Tita Ledy at Kodak Theatre.

A picture taken by Randy while me sipping a hot coffee... reason for the funny face here... :)

From the airport, we went to Asia Buffet to have a sumptuous lunch. That's me with Tito Fred and Tita Ledy...

We just came from the airport and now travelling going to our place of lunch...





Syempre, ang palaging pose ng mga nagpupunta ng hollywood, hehehe. I sooo love Will Smith...

Taking my first driving plunge

I started taking driving lessons when I was still in Dubai. I registered in March in Belhasa Driving and started the lessons in August (I had an entry regarding this way back). After 1 week, I passed the signal and parking test. And after 2 months, I was supposed to take the road test...my final step in obtaining the much elusive "Driving License" in Dubai. However, the exact day of my road test was scheduled to be my flight date going to Chicago. So, my high hopes of driving along the roads of Dubai and racing against the stu*id pana drivers suddenly subsided. (Not only that, it took a while before I was able to accept the fact that the amount that I paid to the driving school will suddenly go to nothing... the driving lesson in Dubai is one of the costly expenses...and when I say costly, it means really a fortune!).

Now, when I went here in Chicago, of course I cannot drive. It really feels like a handicapped just staying at home and can't go outside without calling for a taxi cab. So, as soon as I arrived here, I called the driver services facility and asked for the requirements and how to obtain D/L. My boss even gave me a driving book which I can read just in preparation for the written exam (tackles the Illinois driving rules). Randy even went to 2 offices of Secretary of State also to obtain D/L. However, we always go home empty-handed. We cannot apply for D/L unless we have a social security number. So, I still had to wait for my SS number to arrive before I would be able to apply for D/L. So, I said OK.

Last week, I was jumping with delight when I came home... my SS number finally arrived... after more than 1 month of waiting! So, yesterday (Saturday), I hurriedly went to the nearest Secretary of State driving facility and applied for an "Instruction Permit". (I still did not apply for D/L coz I'm kind of afraid to take the road test...baka nakalimutan ko na kung pano magdrive, hehehe).

I was not expecting to take the written exam since I was just applying for an instruction driving permit (it's like a student license in Pinas). And I was shocked when the rep told me to proceed in the written exam area...ohmigod!

So, I had no choice but to take the written exam. And thank god, hahaha...I passed it with flying colors, bwahahaha! 28 out of 29 questions... And I was able to finish the exam way ahead my co-test takers...pero ang nakakahiya, ang mali ko pa eh ang "meaning ng flashing red light"...bwahahaha! Bobita talaga!

So, here's the proof:


Now, what I need to do is to find someone with valid D/L who can accompany me in driving, hahaha. Tsk...tsk...tsk...driving ata is one of my weaknesses. Madali ako kabahan...kung sa Dubai nga, driving along Jumeirah Road at Wasl Road lang kinakabahan nako (Oo, 80 kph pa lang ang max kong nagawa, hahahaha!)...pano na sa freeway?

I'm planning to take my road test this coming Saturday...pero hindi pa buo ang loob ko...pag sinumpong ako ng nerbyos, baka next month na lang. After mag ipon ng lakas ng loob sa christmas/new year season, hehehe... :)