I finally have a Smartphone that I seldom Use- BLU v70

My old and cheap cell phone finally conked out on me. I used the cell phone not too often, just for verifying my food delivery services or if my landline phone is not working. For computer work, I have a desk top with a 48" monitor. For Camera and Face Time I have an apple I-pad. So I really do not need a smartphone, but David III gave it to me as my advanced Birthday gift.   I started playing with it. At first I have a hard time with my fingering( hitting two alphabets or numbers) and get confused with all the applications, etc.... After  playing with it for 30 minutes, I am beginning to like it. However I will never exchanged this mini computer with my huge PC screen and PC. So here are the features of my new BLU V70 smartphone. It cost $129 plus tax from Best Buy. 

 "Communicate effectively with this unlocked BLU V70 smartphone. The 64GB of internal memory provide ample storage for media and apps, while the 6.1-inch HD+ Infinity display delivers crisp, detailed visuals. This black 4G-enabled BLU V70 smartphone features 3GB of RAM and an octa-core processor for fast app performance, and dual 13MP cameras capture beautiful pictures and videos".

Features
Octa-core 1.5GHz processor with 3GB of RAM
Delivers outstanding overall performance for opening and running applications, flipping through menus, running home screens and more.
Universal Unlocked
Compatible with all major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Also compatible with prepaid carriers including Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile, MetroPCS, Simple Mobile, Total Wireless, Tracfone, Net10, Mint, and H2O.
4G LTE speed
Provides fast Web connection for downloading apps, streaming content and staying connected with social media.
Dual rear-facing cameras and front camera
Lets you record high-resolution images on the rear while a front-facing camera makes it easy to Skype or take selfies.
6.1" touch screen
Extra-large screen is matched with a slim body to comfortably fit in your hand.
64GB internal memory plus microSD slot
Extensive storage space for your contacts, music, photos, apps and more. Expand storage up to 64GB by adding a microSD card (sold separately).
Dual-SIM card slot
Allows you to stay connected with a lot of contacts, having two phone numbers from different carriers in one device.
Android 9
A custom operating system for Android phones that delivers easy app usability and responses.
Your fingerprint keeps your phone secure
Hold your finger on the fingerprint sensor to unlock your phone.
Access to Google Play
Browse and download apps, magazines, books, movies, and television programs directly to your phone.
* SIM Card not included.

What's Included

---

BLU v70

4000 mAh Battery

Headset, USB cable, power adapter, screen protector, protective case

Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my collection

 A Fire Rainbow-

And a time-lapse photography of Bohol Island, Philippines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bsq4kZYfXs

 

Celebration of Life: Macrine J. Katague via her Favorite Music( Broadway)-Part 8

This is Part 8 of 14 on the Series, Celebration of Life, Macrine J. Katague via her Favorite music, Broadway songs

Macrine and I during Our Guided Tour of the Tower of London-1992

Macrine and I love Broadway Musicals. One of our Favorite was Miss Saigon. We attended a show in London, England in 1992. In the bottom of this page is a photo and our ticket of that happy event during our younger years and a Duet by Lea Salonga and Will Chase" Last Night of the World".

Another Broadway Show we loved is Phantom of the Opera. We saw it twice, once in New York City  and second at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.  In this posting I am sharing the Rendition of Il Divo with Lea Salonga- Music of the Night from the Phantom of the Opera. 

Meanwhile, while searching for the best arrangement of Music of the Night, I found this piece that Macrine and I also enjoy, Bali Hai from South Pacific. South Pacific is one of our favorite Broadway Show and Movie.

 

Last Night of the World-Duet Lea Salonga and Will Chase

Last Night of the World-Duet Lea Salonga and Simon Bowman

Macrine and I attended Miss Saigon, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, London, on August 14, 1992. We got the cheapest available tickets since we did not have a reservation. We were provided with opera telescope so we can see the stage, but the music and sound was perfect. Lea Salonga did not performed that night.  For a list top ten Broadway musicals of the Decade that we have attended, read:

https://marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com/search?q=broadway+musicals

Meanwhile, here's Carenna's audition as Nina singing Everything I Know from Lin Miranda In the Heights

 https://www.facebook.com/ditas/videos/10157848225531270/

 

Can You Describe Filipino Food/Cuisine to a Complete Stranger?

• 

  A couple of months ago, I joined a Facebook group-Filipino Cooking. I posted a query 10 weeks ago (October 5)as follows:

  "Describe Filipino food to a complete stranger!"

  I got 262 comments as of today. I am posting a few of the comments for your  reading pleasure. Don't forget to click on #15 video.
  

  1. When I met my husband I barely ate anything...my mother in law was an excellent cook and introduced me to so many amazing dishes. I still can’t do chocolate meat and fish when the head is looking right at me but everything else is amazing. I can actually cook more Filipino food than my own Greek cuisine.
  • 
    
  2. It’s the easiest food to cook because there’s only a few ingredients. Fried or has soup.
  • 
    

  3. Something very unique because of the mixture of cultures that influenced it. It is an amalgam of tastes from those that the Filipinos has in contact with and somehow assimilated into our cuisine. Filipino food is simply Filipino food.
  

  4. I always tell people - it’s like an explosion in your mouth - the kind where you yes yummy and close your eyes at the same time
5. Yummy
• 
  
6. Somewhere between Chinese and Spanish, with Malaysian and American influences, with an island flavor" usually works. It obv doesn't give enough credit the **Filipino*ness of it all but it gets the point across.
• 
  
7. Filipino food is unique. It has its own flavor. You need to try it and I’m sure you’ll like it!
8. Asian soulfood!!!
9. "You eat it with rice" lol ...
• 
  
10. Everything is to be eaten with rice, and to be enjoyed with barehands..

11.  Something very unique because of the mixture of cultures that influenced it. It is an amalgam of tastes from those that the Filipinos has in contact with and somehow assimilated into our cuisine. Filipino food is simply Filipino food. We can say that it is influenced by this culture or that culture but we have somehow put our unique brand to every dish we produce.

12. Looks like and smells like garbage, but tastes like heaven

13.  Asia meets the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, corrupted by 1950's American food.

14. The perfect last meal before death row 

 

15. I don't think I can say it as well as Rexie https://youtu.be/m6Jk3qbtSF8

Here's the description of Filipino cuisine from Wikipedia

Filipino cuisine (Filipino: lutuing Pilipino/pagkaing Pilipino) is composed of the cuisines of more than a hundred distinct ethno-linguistic groups found throughout the Philippine archipelago. However, a majority of mainstream Filipino dishes that compose Filipino cuisine are from the cuisines of the various ethnolinguistic groups and tribes of the archipelago, including the Ilocano, Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, Visayan (Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray), Chavacano and Maranao ethno-linguistic groups. 

The style of food making and the food associated with it have evolved over many centuries from their Austronesian origins (shared with Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines) to a mixed cuisine of Indian, Chinese, Spanish and American influences, in line with the major waves of influence that had enriched the cultures of the archipelago, as well as others adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate.

Dishes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to fish curry, chicken curry, complex paellas and cozidos of Iberian origin created for fiestas. Popular dishes include: lechón (whole roasted pig), longganisa (Philippine sausage), tapa (cured beef), torta (omelette), adobo (chicken or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, oil and soy sauce, or cooked until dry), dinuguan (pork blood stew), kaldereta (meat stewed in tomato sauce and liver paste), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), pochero (beef and bananas in tomato sauce), afritada (chicken or pork and vegetables simmered in tomato sauce), kare-kare (oxtail and vegetables cooked in peanut sauce), pinakbet (kabocha squash, eggplant, beans, okra, and tomato stew flavored with shrimp paste), crispy pata (deep-fried pig's leg), hamonado (pork sweetened in pineapple sauce), sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth), pancit (noodles), and lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls).

Various food scholars have noted that Filipino cuisine is multi-faceted and is the most representative in the culinary world for food where "east meets west".

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo of my Peppered Steak in Oyster Sauce that I cooked recently.

Beef Tenderloin tips with sweet red peppers and sweet Vidalia onions in oyster/teriyaki sauce mix

I served it with steam rice and green papaya acharra (pickled) and leche flan for dessert. 

Here's more video of Rex Navarette on Filipino Cuisine.

Also happy to post what I purchased from Sea Food City today

Grilled Pompano, ampalaya, bagoong, buko pandan ice cream, spanish bread, butter mamom and enzymada

Here's one recipe for Pork and Chicken Adobo by Richard Gomez. Boiled eggs and Liver  are Optional. Adobo is one of the most popular Filipino dishes and recipes varies in different regions of the Philippines. Calamari ( squid/pusit) Adobo is also another one of my favorite Pinoy dish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBSQkZUHezo

 

A Discovery-Filipino Food Available For Delivery in My Neighborhood

I have been ordering Food on line of all ethnic persuasion ranging from Armenian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Italian, Fast Food etc... since March this year when Lockdown was enforced in my neighborhood. Yesterday was my first time to order Filipino dishes via Postmates. 

https://www.menupix.com/california/restaurants/5573059/Teriyaki-Station-Menu-Folsom-CA

Just recently, I found out that a Japanese Restaurant( Teriyaki Station) in Folsom, CA only 4 miles from my residence also carries Filipino Food. I could order on line via Postmates or Doordash. 

Yesterday, I ordered for the first time, Lechon Kawali, Paksiw na Pata, Pancit, and Avocado Halo Halo. It was delicious although pricey but it is a luxury I can afford. 

If you are in the area here's some Pinoy dishes in their menu. They also accept catering orders but required at least 2 days notice. Kare-Kare ( ox tails in peanut sauce) is only available on Fridays and Saturdays.

This Japanese-Filipino restaurant is only 4 miles from home versus my other favorite restaurant ( Peenoy Grocery and Restaurant) near McCleland Air Force Base on Watt Ave about 10 miles from home. Moreover, Peenoy Restaurant does not have delivery services. Here's some dishes in the Menu.

Teriyaki Station Atbp

141 Iron Point Rd, Folsom CA

(916) 608-4567

Open 11:00 AM - 7:30 PM PST

Teriyaki Bowls

Chicken Bowl w/onion rings

$8.50

Beef Bowl w/onion rings

$8.99

Pork Bowl w/onion rings

$8.50

Veggie Bowl w/onion rings

$7.99

Steamed veggies with teriyaki sauce over rice with 2 onion rings

Salmon Bowl w/onion rings

$12.50

Combo Bowl w/onion rings

$9.99

Choice of up to 2 meats

Teriyaki Plates

#1 Teriyaki Chicken Combo w/onion rings

$8.50

2 pcs of our house specialty grilled chicken with a side of rice, salad and 2 onion rings

#2 Teriyaki Beef Combo w/onion rings

$8.99

4 pcs of tender beef strips with a side of rice, salad and 2 onion rings

#3 Teriyaki Pork Combo w/onion rings

$8.50

4 pcs of grilled tender pork strips with a side of rice, salad and 2 onion rings

#4 Chicken, Beef, Pork Combo w/ OR

$9.35

1 pc of each of each meat ( best option to sample all our grilled meats) served with side of salad, rice and 2 onion rings

#5 2Chicken, 2 Beef, 2 Pork Combo w/ OR

$13.99

Double combo: double serving of our grilled meats with side of rice, salad and 2 onion rings

#6 Teriyaki Salmon Combo w/ OR

$12.99

Grilled salmon served with side of rice, salad and 2 onion rings

Tempura

Tempura Plate

$10.50

3pcs of tempura shrimp with variety of tempura veggies fried to a golden crisp. Served with rice and salad.

Vegetable Tempura

$6.50

a mix of broccoli, zucchini, carrots, sweet potato and onion rings dipped in our tempura batter and fried until golden and crisp.

3 Pcs. Tempura Shrimp

$4.99

Filipino Food/Combo Plate

FILIPINO COMBOS

Choice of 1 entree with a side of pancit and rice

CRISPY PATA Combo

$16.63

Tender pork ham hock braised in our special spices and deep fried until crispy. Served with a side or rice and pancit.

Crispy Pata Ala Carte

$14.74

Crispy pata only ( no sides)

Ala carte

A serving of entree only /no sides

Pancit

$6.49

Rice noodles sauteed with shrimp and chicken

Lumpia (2pcs)

$1.75

Our in house made egg roll filled with ground pork and shrimp.

Lumpia (5 Pcs)

$4.52

Our in house made egg roll filled with ground pork and shrimp.

Lumpiang gulay

$1.25

All veggie egg roll

Halo-Halo

$6.89

Our most popular dessert! Creamy shaved ice with a variety of fruit fillings and topped with Ube ice cream, flan and a sprinkle of rice crispies.

Avo-Halo Smash

$6.89

An Avocado version of Halo-halo. A delightful treat of real avocadoes in a variety of toppings, creamy blended and topped with avocado ice cream!

Siopao

$3.50

Pork Asado Siopao

The menu price ordering via Postmate is about $1.00 to $ 3.00 more plus delivery charge and taxes. Doordash is about a few dollars cheaper. But it is worth it, saves you driving time(gas) and possible Covid-19 exposure! 

My next posting is about Filipino Food/Cuisine in general. Watch for it! 

 

A New Discovery for Entertainment during this Covid-19 Lockdown- Turkish TV Dramas

Have you watch any Turkish TV dramas recently? Last month I watched for the first time a Turkish Drama on Netflix. I enjoyed it so much I searched for more Turkish Dramas and here's the top 10 in my List. I have finished Winter Sun and now binging on Black Money Love. They have all English Subtitles. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuMQn-7pWEc

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzrpM1_YR1A

Turkish television drama has grown radically since the 2000s. Most dramas reflect Turkish culture and are the country's most well known economic and cultural exports. Turkey is the world's fastest growing television series exporter and has currently overtaken both Mexico and Brazil as the world's second highest television series exporter after the United States.  The television industry has played a pivotal role in increasing Turkey's popularity in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa.

Turkish series are mostly produced in Istanbul, as television companies chose to settle there after the wave of liberalization for private television in the 1990s. Turkish television channels producing dramas include TRT, Kanal D, SHOW, STAR, ATV, FOX, tv8, and Kanal. The Turkish television series market is marked by stiff local competition: out of the 60 series produced every year in the country, almost 50% do not run for longer than 13 episodes due to the strong competition among the different local channels, resulting in the high quality and popularity of the longer-running productions.

The sudden and immense international popularity since the 2000s of Turkish TV dramas has been widely analyzed as a social phenomenon.(From Wikipedia)

Turkish TV series are also very popular in Spain and Latin America. The popularity of Turkish television series in Latin America and Spain is due to the nature of the plot, the atmosphere and the quality of the shooting of Turkish film production.

Since Turkey is a multicultural country, there are actors for all tastes around. Spectators love the performance of the actors. These series reflect very well the social changes in society, the processes of migration from the village to the city, the problems of domestic violence, early marriage, the division between rich and poor, the problems associated with urbanization and family values. They represent a synthesis of East and West. The world sees it as a geographical and cultural bridge. 

Meanwhile, enjoy this video-our beach house and resort in the Philippines

 Also enjoy this video highlighting time-lapse photography:

Personal Suggestion to Movie, TV and Documentary Producers: The Four Years Presidency Of Trump filled with Chaos, Deceit, Revenge and Poor Leadership Resulting to the Death of a Quarter Million Americans will be a good subject to produce. It will not only be entertaining but also history making on the Life of the Worst President of the US.

 

Are You Addicted to Social Media? Trump's Addiction to Twitter!

 Lame Duck President Trump is addicted to Twitter (see site and video below).

I just finished watching a documentary on Netflix, the Social Dilemma. This is a documentary-drama hybrid that explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.

After watching this film,  I decided to search Wikipedia and here's some excerpts that I found relevant and informative.

"There are many ways that an addiction to social media can be expressed in individuals. According to Andreassen and colleagues, there are four potential factors that indicate a person’s dependence to social media:

1. Mood swings: a person uses social media to regulate his or her mood, or as a means of escaping real world conflicts
2. Relevance: social media starts to dominate a person's thoughts at the expense of other activities
3. Tolerance: a person increases their time spent on social media to experience previously associated feelings they had while using social media;
4. Withdrawal: when a person can’t access social media their sleeping or eating habits change or signs of depression or anxiety can become present.
5. Conflicts in real life: when social media is used excessively, it can affect real-life relationships with family and friends.

In addition to Andreassen’s factors, Griffiths further explains that someone is addicted to social media if their behavior fulfills any of these six criteria:

1. Salience: social media becomes the most important part in someone's life;
2. Mood modification: a person uses social media as a means of escape because it makes them feel "high", "buzzed", or "numb";
3. Tolerance: a person gradually increases their time spent on social media to maintain that escapist feeling;
4. Withdrawal: unpleasant feelings or physical sensations when the person is unable to use social media or doesn’t have access to it;
5. Conflict: social media use causes conflict in interpersonal dynamics, loses desire to participate in other activities, and becomes pervasive;
6. Relapse: the tendency for previously affected individuals to revert to previous patterns of excessive social media use.

He continues to add that excessive use of an activity, like social media, doesn’t directly equate with addiction because there are other factors that could lead to someone’s social media addiction including personality traits and pre-existing tendencies.

Turel and Serenko summarize three types of general models people might have that can lead to addictive social media use:

1. Cognitive-behavioral model – People increase their use of social media when they are in unfamiliar environments or awkward situations;
2. Social skill model – People pull out their phones and use social media when they prefer virtual communication as opposed to face-to-face interactions because they lack self-presentation skills;
3. Socio-cognitive model – This person uses social media because they love the feeling of people liking and commenting on their photos and tagging them in pictures. They are attracted to the positive outcomes they receive on social media.

Based on those models, Xu and Tan suggest that the transition from normal to problematic social media use occurs when a person relies on it to relieve stress, loneliness, depression, or provide continuous rewards."

So are you an Internet addict? What Platforms are you addicted? Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Instagram? E-mails? etc...

The above article also reminded me of my previous articles on Internet Addiction as follows:

https://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com/2011/06/are-you-suffering-from-facebook.html

https://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com/search?q=internet+addiction

Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my album

My banana Plant growing well in my Backyard- October, 2020
 and my pineapple guava harvest this year

*Here's an article of proof that Lame Duck President Trump is addicted to Twitter.

https://theconversation.com/is-realdonaldtrump-addicted-to-twitter-85704

Trump Dopamine Addiction to Twitter-The Most Insecure Man in the World.

Today's Headline: Trump still won’t concede, which Biden called an “embarrassment.” A look at the implications of Georgia’s Senate runoff elections-Control of the Senate.