You might say that the safest way to do this, if ever there is, is to do it when I’ve already saved enough, settled down, and reached the top of wherever I’m currently in. I know, right? I also thought about it like that before. But it just occurred to me, if I move on just because it is secure to go to that path and leave my dream for later, I might have the tendency to forget about the dream. Or I might just let the dream be a dream, something I want to reach but will never ever take the first step to do so. You know, something that is just good to think about when you’re bored with your current life.

I don’t want to be bored.

And crazy as it seems, I will pursue this path because I, together with Nyaw, have this vision: giving the power to people to create things that they can be proud of.  We want to provide the platform for them to do so.

There are many websites catering to collections of pictures, sketches, music, and many more that are being shared to others.  Why, I’m currently using one now!  But we want to go further.  Aside from a community to share created ‘stuffs’, we also want to change the experience in creating and consuming these ‘stuffs’.  You might think I’m so vague right now, but as we go along, I’ll share more to you.

Now, the question is: is it the right time to do this? Before, I have discussed here that the timing is not really important.  Whether you achieve something now or later, the feeling of accomplishment will be the same.  But is it?

We do this now because we can.  And we will.

Created using Scribeit for iPhone.

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Join me in this journey.  And I hope you too can find that something in your life that you want to pursue.  When you do, never hesitate.  Give it your all! ^^

Brief History:

One day, I was manipulating my photos using some available iPhone apps like PS Mobile and Shakeit Photo.  I thought, isn’t it cool to add texts as well?  Yes, just like those emo images we always see in Tumblr.  And sometimes, I want to add a signature somewhere in the pic before uploading.  Isn’t that cool?

But there’s no available app that can do that.  Most apps use some sort of comic bubble or cloud, some use random cut-out letters (which I also thought about, before seeing that it’s already there), some have limited number of lines, or simply put, the available ones don’t give me full control on how and where my texts will be placed on my image.  What I can do is use Pastebot to copy my pic from iPhone to Mac (without the hassle of email, although it’s also easy) and use either Picassa or Gimp to add the text (with any font, any size, any color) anywhere.  Can I do this in iPhone alone?

So, Nyaw created Scribeit. ^^

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Scribeit for iPhone enables you to create and design using texts.  Since the iPhone is equipped with a camera, any fantastic moment is never missed, right?  Adding texts to such photos can be useful as watermarks (ownership protection), captions (e.g., date and place), artistic creation (e.g., poetry, haiku, quotes), and many more.  Moreover, the accurate and easy-to-use touch technology of the iPhone makes it very easy to use Scribeit to move around texts on a photo or canvas, resize the view, and manipulate text font styles, colors, sizes, and even transparency.  In the future updates, we will add the ability to rotate the text and more text effects (shadow, text stroke, etc.).

This is one of my early Scribeit creations, when it was still so raw and under development. ^^ Now, I’m so happy that this pic is seen by many since it’s one of the screenshots submitted to the App Store. I have created lots of Scribed images already, most of them are uploaded in my 365 project in Facebook or in my Tumblr.  It turns out, a lot of people likes the one with Bee (my hamster).

You can visit http://scribeit.tumblr.com for more details and for a complete guide on how to use it.

There is also an ongoing promo wherein 20 people can have Scribeit for FREE.  The details are here.

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Now, why Scribeit?

Because you’ll discover how cool texts are once again… when you use it. ^^

For those who want to join us in developing iPhone/iPad apps, just send me a message or something.    Or if you have any app requests, perhaps we can do something about it.  Thanks!

Lovelots,

What makes my bag different…

1. Preparing and eating Osechi – my labmates told me during our bounenkai that Japanese moms spend a lot of time to prepare Osechi for new year.  This ‘food set’ should be eaten from January 1-3 only, when moms are also on holiday. (They are free from house work and all, yeah!!!)  I so wanted to try Osechi but since we had no chance (we were in snow country), I must wait for 2011 to do so. ^^  They said that Osechi doesn’t have that much taste though.    Perhaps, everything is just boiled without much seasoning.  ^.~
2. Going to Shrines to ring the ‘Bell’ – one of the nearest shrine here in NAIST is the one near Todaiji in Nara Park.  If ever we’ll feel like going out tomorrow, we might, perhaps, visit that one or some other shrines in Kyoto.  Japanese tradition, from what I heard, states that ringing the bell is like a call to ‘heaven’ to bless the person with good life all throughout the year.  And for the girls who are 18 and boys who are 23, they must pray harder because, for some reason, these years are supposed to be the hardest.  Doushite?  Wakaranai…
3. Fukubukuro (Lucky Bags) Hunting – Now this one sounds the funnest of all.  Shops all over Japan have ‘Lucky Bags’ being sold for ¥2000, ¥5000, ¥10000, ¥20000, or even more, wherein if you’re lucky, you’ll get more than the worth of what you spent.  This is considered an exciting way to spread ‘luck’ in Japan.  Apple Stores too have such a tradition, of which we just sorely missed. T.T  There’s still tomorrow to grab some goodies somewhere.  Perhaps, we’ll get some coolness stuff in Nippombashi tomorrow.  Nendos and One Piece stuffs, here I come!!!  Oh, and actually, these Lucky Bags are popular for fashion thingies, which I am not so into.  ~.~  Shinsaibashi and those stores in Namba streets would be great for 2010 bargain shopping.

Anyway, we spent New Year quite differently, again, but I think it is better than last year’s slacking mode in my room.  Haha!    I am so looking forward to this year.  So many projects and activities and events on the way.  ^.^

Hihi, New Year celebration ends tomorrow anyway, so Nyaw and I still have another day to try doing some Japanese holiday tradition too.  Hope we’ll have the energy! 

I’ve got the feeling that this year will be WONDERFUL! ^.~

Have a blessed 2010… and may all our wishes and plans come true and push through!

Prosperity.  Success. Happiness. Love.

–eng

Glee – Mercedes

X Factor – Danyl Johnson

X Factor – Nicole Lawrence

Dreamgirls – Jennifer Hudson

Live on Paul O’Grady – Charice Pempengco

Even young David Archuleta

America’s Got Talent – Bianca Ryan

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Looking back at these covers, I think Charice is the sure winner. Just look at the way she handles the mic.   Isn’t it???

01. Mercedes, Artie, Rachel & Tina – Proud Mary
02. Will & Rachel – Endless Love
03. Finn – I’ll Stand By You
04. Will – Don’t Stand So Close To Me/Young Girl
05. Rachel – Crush
06. Finn – (You’re) Having My Baby
07. Artie & Mercedes – Lean On Me
08. Mercedes – Don’t Make Me Over
09. Mercedes, Artie, Finn & Rachel – Imagine
10. Tina – True Colors
11. Finn, Rachel, Artie & Mercedez – Jump
12. Rachel & Finn – Smile (Cover Of Lily Allen Song)
13. Rachel, Finn & Mercedes – Smile (Cover Of Charlie Chaplin Song)
14. Mercedes – And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going
15. Rachel – Don’t Rain On My Parade
16. Rachel, Finn, Artie & Mercedes – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
17. Rachel, Finn, Tina & Mercedes – My Life Would Suck Without You

The last stretch of Glee this season was indeed spectacular.  The last episode in itself felt like the end already… yet of course, we Gleeks want more.  MORE!  So mark your calendars my friends.  April 13, 2010!  On to the Regionals!!!

In this volume, I can’t help but smile with Endless Love, as Rachel fell in lurve with Mr. Schue for quite some time.  And I remember Igor and Nyaw singing this duet back in Minoh.  Boom, boom, boom…  Hahaha!!!

Finn’s I’ll Stand By You is another favorite.  Wow!  Remember that episode when he was singing to the ultrasound image of his baby (well, now he knows the baby’s not his, saaad)?  That was so sweet.

Imagine makes me cry everytime I hear the piano intro.  Damn deafs!!! Can’t sing a single note… but they sure can melt hearts with their ‘music’.  One of those episodes when I want to hug Mercedes.

And Tina’s True Colors.  I have great memories with this song (hihihi)… and so when New Directions took their stools and just sang (after all those hair moves that made them look crazy and wheelchair performance for Proud Mary), it was just wonderful.

So what’s your favorite?

Oh, by the way, how can I forget Mercedes’ Ballad?  But that’s worthy of another post. ^^ So wait up!

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And for the record, Glee Club is not a club for Losers!!! (I was in one when I was in Grade 5 )  Hahaha!!!

It turns out, it is just not meant to be. Too busy with “work” to go elsewhere. You see, as the year ends, I am anticipating the end of some things as well. The finale of my current topic is to be culminated with a huge deadline, which is fast approaching. The end of this series of experiments that I have been preoccupied with some months now, included. Of course, the end means the beginning of something else; that place I am very eager to be in already. But more work. Push a little longer. Almost there.

Before, I would have been just dreaming of the happy ending, despite all the pressure. But through time I have learned that stories with “happy endings” haven’t exactly ended yet. So what now?

There’s still Backstreet Boys on Feb… Whitney Houston too. Naaah… How can I let this small yet worthy concert pass?

Because I have to.

That’s when I thought: who needs Arashiyama when I can appreciate Autumn Colors right outside my window?