Marinduque Mainland from Tres Reyes Islands

Marinduque Mainland from Tres Reyes Islands
View of Marinduque Mainland from Tres Reyes Islands-Click on photo to link to Chateau Du Mer

WELCOME TO MY SITE AND HAVE A GOOD DAY

If this is your first time in this site, welcome. It has been my dream that my province, Marinduque, Philippines becomes a world tourist destination not only during Easter Week but also whole year round. You can help me achieve my dream by telling your friends about this site. The photo above is your own private beach at The Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort. The sand is not as white as Boracay, but it is only a few steps from your front yard and away from the mayhem and crowds of Boracay. I have posted some of my favorite Filipino and American dishes and recipes on this site also. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringement of your copyrights. Cheers!

Monday, July 14, 2025

Photos of Our Scenic Drive to the Lafayette Reservoir Park

THD Activity on the Scenic Drive to the Lafayette Reservoir yesterday afternoon was fun. The following THD residents that participated are in the photo below: 

The Lafayette Reservoir is an open-cut human-made terminal water storage reservoir owned and operated by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). Completed in 1933, it was intended solely as a standby water supply for EBMUD customers. EBMUD opened the reservoir for public recreation in 1966. It is located off California State Route 24 and a mile from the Lafayette BART station, in Contra Costa County, California, United States. This all-year, day-use area is ideal for hiking, jogging, fishing, boating and picnicking. The reservoir is on the Lafayette-Orinda border. The reservoir is on a 925-acre (3.74 km2) site and holds 1.4 billion US gallons (5,300,000 m3)

I took some photos as Follows: 











On our way back we stopped for ice cream at La Chataigne French Pastry Shop. I took the two photos of these dark red hibiscus as part of the landscaping of the La Fiesta Square Shopping Mall , Lafayette, CA 





Drone photo of the Reservoir from their Website




Sunday, July 13, 2025

From Text to Video via PictoryAI

I have been doing some search on AI Apps that will convert text or images to videos. Here are the results of my search. 

My First AI Video from my the text of my blog- Celebrating Love through the Years-dated July 7, 2025  Here's the video using only the text from My Blogs. I have Fun Creating IT! Moreover It's under Free Trial. To Continue using it, I have to subscribe, 

https://video.pictory.ai/v2/preview/1083215999745153262301751994396692


There are several AI-powered apps and platforms that can convert written text (like blog posts) into engaging videos. These tools typically use AI to generate visuals, voiceovers, background music, and animations to match the text. Here are some of the most popular and reliable ones as of 2025: The video I created above is from PictoryAI. I like It. 

๐Ÿ”น 1. Pictory๐Ÿ’š

  • Best for: Bloggers, marketers, and YouTubers

  • Key Features:

    • Turns blog posts or scripts into videos using AI

    • Stock video/images + voiceover options

    • Captions and automatic summarization

  • Pros: Very easy to use, solid AI narration

  • Website: pictory.ai


๐Ÿ”น 2. Lumen5

  • Best for: Social media and marketing videos

  • Key Features:

    • Converts blog text into short videos

    • Suggests relevant stock images and animations

    • Branding and templates support

  • Pros: Great for creating quick explainer or promo videos

  • Website: lumen5.com


๐Ÿ”น 3. InVideo

  • Best for: Full customization of videos from scripts

  • Key Features:

    • AI text-to-video with templates

    • Advanced editing tools

    • Human-like voiceovers

  • Pros: More control over the final product than most

  • Website: invideo.io


๐Ÿ”น 4. Synthesia

  • Best for: Professional-looking AI avatar videos

  • Key Features:

    • AI avatars read your blog or script

    • 120+ languages, realistic voice synthesis

    • Great for training, tutorials, or business updates

  • Pros: High-quality avatars and speech

  • Website: synthesia.io


๐Ÿ”น 5. Animoto

  • Best for: Simple drag-and-drop video creation

  • Key Features:

    • Upload blog text and match it with visuals and music

    • Simple interface with branding tools

  • Pros: Beginner-friendly and social media ready

  • Website: animoto.com


๐Ÿ”น 6. HeyGen (formerly Movio)

  • Best for: AI avatars delivering scripted blog content

  • Key Features:

    • Realistic avatars, voice cloning, and script input

    • Multilingual voiceovers

  • Pros: Great for turning blog content into professional talking-head videos

  • Website: heygen.com

For Details visit:

 https://app.pictory.ai/storyboard/scripttovideo๐Ÿ’š

Subscription from any of the above AI APPs is expensive if you do not have any income producing the videos.  Only PictoryAI has a Free Trial Feature. 

Saturday, July 12, 2025

The AI Revolution

This morning, I posted the most widely used AI Apps in the world. My posting this afternoon was AI answer to my query on the current status of AI technology and what lies ahead in the next five years. I know that most seniors citizens do not really care about the subject,  But I am,  and bear with me if I am passionate about this subject. I would not be slighted if you skipped reading this, but remember we are never too old to learn new things. So I hope you continue reading this article.   

This posting is inspired from my recent mealtime conversations here at THD. 

The AI Revolution: Where We Are in 2025 and What Lies Ahead by 2030

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer science fiction—it's the engine behind everyday tools, decision-making systems, and even creativity itself. As we stand in 2025, AI is rapidly transforming nearly every industry, from healthcare and education to finance, art, and entertainment. But this is just the beginning. 

Here's a look at where AI stands today and where it might take us in the next five years.


Where We Are in 2025

1. AI is Mainstream

In 2025, AI is deeply embedded in daily life:

  • Generative AI (like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others) writes, codes, creates images, videos, and even music with human-like fluency.

  • Virtual Assistants are more conversational and context-aware, managing schedules, emails, customer service, and more.

  • Healthcare AI is diagnosing conditions (radiology, pathology, early cancer detection) faster and sometimes more accurately than doctors.

  • Autonomous Systems power logistics, manufacturing robots, and self-driving vehicles in limited but growing applications.

  • AI Companions and tutors support education and emotional wellbeing, especially for aging populations and students with special needs.

2. Multimodal AI is the New Standard

Tools like GPT-4o and its peers can understand and combine text, image, audio, and video seamlessly. This has unlocked:

  • More immersive virtual environments

  • Powerful tools for people with disabilities

  • More intuitive and accessible user interfaces

3. Regulation and Ethics Are Catching Up

The EU, U.S., and other countries are creating frameworks to ensure safe, fair, and transparent AI use, focusing on:

  • Deepfake prevention

  • Algorithmic bias

  • Data privacy

  • Employment displacement


What to Expect by 2030: Five Bold Predictions

1. Personal AI Agents Will Replace Traditional Apps

By 2030, many people may no longer open individual apps. Instead, they'll rely on personalized AI agents that understand preferences, predict needs, and proactively handle tasks—shopping, travel, scheduling, even creative projects—through voice or thought interfaces.

2. AI + Robotics = Real-World Intelligence

Expect AI to leave the screen and enter the physical world. Humanoid robots, warehouse bots, home assistants, and autonomous vehicles will benefit from smarter AI "brains" that can:

  • Perceive environments

  • Understand human behavior

  • Adapt to new situations without reprogramming

3. Hyper-Personalized Education and Work

AI tutors will design individualized curriculums. Workers will use AI copilots to boost creativity, automate routine tasks, and develop new skills faster. The human-AI team will be the dominant model for productivity.

4. Decentralized, Open-Source AI Will Rise

As concerns over big tech dominance grow, more communities and countries will develop their own sovereign AI models, promoting open-source development, transparency, and cultural diversity in AI outputs.

5. Brain-Computer Interfaces Will Blur the Line

With companies like Neuralink and others making strides, AI may be controlled through non-invasive neural interfaces by 2030. This could open doors to:

  • Enhanced memory and cognition

  • New communication methods

  • Direct control of digital tools via thought


Final Thoughts: Preparing for an AI-First World

The next five years will be defined not just by how advanced AI becomes—but by how we adapt to it. This means rethinking:

  • Education (to focus on creativity, ethics, and critical thinking)

  • Work (with AI as partner, not replacement)

  • Human Connection (in an increasingly digital world)

We’re on the cusp of something historic. If 2020–2025 was the AI awakening, then 2025–2030 will be its full bloom. The future isn't just artificial—it's augmented, and it's coming fast. 

Personal Note: The text in this blog could be converted into a video, if desired. You plan on using any AI apps in the  future?  I like to hear from you. As they say, you are never too old to learn something new.  I just started using Generated AI Apps three months ago and I am having the fun of my life.

Reference and Further Reading:  https://www.wiz.ai/what-is-the-artificial-intelligence-revolution-and-why-does-it-matter-to-your-business/#:~:text=The%20Artificial%20Intelligence%20Revolution%20is,tasks%20requiring%20human%2Dlike%20intelligence.

Lastly, here the list of the top ten countries in the world.





The Most Popular AI Apps World Wide

This Posting is inspired from our recent Barbecue Time๐Ÿ’šTable conversations last July 4th.

As of April 2025, #ChatGPT remains the most popular #AI app worldwide, with 546.15 million monthly active users. The same month, it became the top mobile app globally, achieving 52 million downloads, surpassing entertainment and utility platforms that traditionally dominate app rankings. Alongside ChatGPT, Google #Gemini and Doubao emerged as the most downloaded AI apps in 2024, each strengthening their foothold in diverse markets.
In 2024, more than 4,000 new AI apps entered the market, propelling total downloads to 1.49 billion across all AI applications. This surge highlights both sustained consumer interest and the escalating competition among developers seeking to capitalize on the AI boom.
Several AI-first applications maintain an active monthly user base exceeding 30 million, highlighting the shift from experimental adoption to routine daily use. These figures account solely for app usage, excluding web-based interactions, suggesting the actual engagement with AI platforms is considerably higher.
As organizations evaluate market opportunities and competitive positioning, these metrics reinforce the critical role of mobile AI in shaping future consumer behavior and digital infrastructure investments.

Meanwhile, here's the Photo of Our Table Discussing AI technology and Other Topics( Steve blue tongue๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’š) last July 4th. 
Photo courtesy of Jenny Shively
๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’š

Lastly, Did you know that ......

Just three regions produce half of the world’s economic output?.
This map shows how East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea), Eastern U.S and Western Europe together account for around 50% of global GDP. These areas are home to many of the world’s largest economies, financial hubs, and major industries driving global trade and innovation.
In North America, the United States alone contributes a significant share thanks to its massive economy and consumer market. East Asia has emerged as a manufacturing powerhouse and technological leader, with China, Japan, and South Korea playing key roles.

Meanwhile, Europe combines advanced economies like Germany, France and the UK, along with several smaller but highly developed nations, forming a major center of global commerce.
These economic giants shape everything from global supply chains to financial markets, underscoring how concentrated much of the world’s wealth and production remains today.

Friday, July 11, 2025

Photos of Our Bancroft Garden and Sculpture Tour- Part 3

 This is Part 3 of of 3 on My Series on the Ruth Bancroft Gardens 

  
The Sculpture in the Garden Tour is scheduled for June 21 to August 10, 2025

Saturday, July 5 from 10AM to 11AM, Daughter-in-law Ruth Carver Katague treated me for a one hour of invigorating and a much welcome garden and sculpture tour of The Ruth Bancroft Garden here in Walnut Creek, CA ruth bancroft garden ). The weather was perfect ( not too hot) and we took our time. There are benches and tables scattered all around the Garden Area that you can use. I took 70 photos and Ruth  5 Photos making it a total of 75. Thus, I am posting only 25 photos in a 3-part series in my blogs. If you love, cacti, succulents and Garden sculptures, these 3 postings is a must read  for you. If you follow my blogs, you probably knew I love Cacti, Succulents and Garden Sculptures and Plaques.

 https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2016/04/solar-lights-and-statuaries-in-my-garden.html  

The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a 2.5-acre (1.0 ha) public dry garden established by Ruth Bancroft. It contains more than 2,000 cactussucculents, trees, and shrubs native to CaliforniaMexicoChileSouth Africa, and Australia. It is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek, CaliforniaUSA

The following are photos for Part 3 of this Series


























End of the Series: If you love Cacti, Succulents and Garden Sculpture and Plaques, this is a must excursion for You. 

Lastly, Do You Know what's the meaning of:

 "Va de vi" is a Catalan phrase that translates to "It's all about wine!or "All about the wine!". It's often used to describe a place or experience focused on wine and related activities, like Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar in Walnut Creek.While the phrase is specifically about wine, the restaurant also emphasizes food, offering small plates to complement the extensive wine list. 

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Photos of Our Bancroft Garden and Sculpture Tour- Part 2

This is part 2 of 3 on my Series on the Ruth Bancroft Garden Tour
The Sculpture in the Garden Tour is scheduled for June 21 to August 10, 2025

Saturday, July 5 from 10AM to 11AM, Daughter-in-law Ruth Carver Katague treated me for a one hour of invigorating and a much welcome garden and sculpture tour of The Ruth Bancroft Garden here in Walnut Creek, CA ( ruth bancroft garden ). The weather was perfect ( not too hot) and we took our time. There are benches and tables scattered all around the Garden Area that you can use. I took 70 photos and Ruth  5 Photos making it a total of 75. Thus, I am posting only 25 photos in a 3-part series in my blogs. If you love, cacti, succulents and Garden sculptures, these 3 postings is a must read  for you. If you follow my blogs, you probably knew I love Cacti, Succulents and Garden Sculptures and Plaques.  

 https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2016/04/solar-lights-and-statuaries-in-my-garden.html

The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a 2.5-acre (1.0 ha) public dry garden established by Ruth Bancroft. It contains more than 2,000 cactussucculents, trees, and shrubs native to CaliforniaMexicoChileSouth Africa, and Australia. It is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek, CaliforniaUSA

The following are photos for Part 2 of this Series





























 To be continued to Part 3 ( last) 

Linkwithin

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