January 31, 2002
TODAY marks my first year of self-employment and I can truly say that I'm totally happy with this working scenario. Thanks goes to Arnold and my family for bearing with my initial mood swings and recurring indecisiveness ("But they're offering me xxxxxx a month! Should I go back to corporate life?"), and all you dear online friends who take time to leave encouraging notes and comments on this blog.
***
(swiped from our friend Luis K's article, What to do When Saturn Returns.)
***
ï Are You Freelancer Material?
Indi and Adam presents this perfect example of freelance time spent creatively.
For those of you planning to go the freelance route:
ï A Celebration of Freelancing
ï Freelancing 101
12:00 PM
link |
January 29, 2002
Really busy. Just some random bits for now:
***
I am Kogepan. I was from a bakery shop in Hokkaido...I was supposed to be a delicious red bean bun, but an unfortunate accident had happened...
(GO)
***
If you're thinking of going on a diet, please do not aspire to look like this.
(via Erika)
04:22 PM
link |
January 28, 2002
I never order the Strawberries and Cream tea at Struan's since I like my tea plain, but last night, because I wanted something my dairy-loving Arnold would care to drink ("flavored water", he calls my daily cuppa), I decided to risk it. To my delight, it didn't have milk in it, it just smelled like it did. Ingenious.
***
Still on the subject of caffeine: here's the original Coca-Cola recipe.
(via Strange Brew)
01:41 PM
link |
January 25, 2002
Arnold and his friends recently introduced me to a wonderful game called Once Upon A Time where players collectively build a story using handsomely-illustrated character, item, event, place, or aspect cards. Any player can interrupt whoever is narrating with an interrupt card and thus twist the events to lead to her prescribed ending.
Since our group consisted mostly of storytellers (my Arn included), you can imagine how very interesting, sometimes melodramatic, and really long-winded the impromptu fairy tales got.
Note: My UPIS friends and I used to play a simpler version of the game back in college. One of us would create a scenario and then proceed to tell what would be the beginning of an engrossing fantasy tale. When a conflict is about to happen, the burden of continuing the story is passed on to the next person, and so on.
01:15 PM
link |
January 24, 2002
Newsbits about some of our talented friends:
ï Philweavers' very own Redberger made it to the finals in the Art/Culture Category of the SXSW Web Awards.
ï Chain Gang, the pioneering female act in Manila's music scene, is Philmusic's featured band this week.
Incidentally, they're all fellow UP alumni. Coincidence? (:
p.s. Welcome home, Shiloah!
06:17 PM
link |
Cool, I noticed that the nice girls who come by here regularly are very artistic people. If only I had the time I would love to do art collages like Genie (see her lovely, lovely journals) or knit my own clothing stuff like Ivete and Kim (wish I knew how). Even my good friend Naomi has a crafty side-business thingy called "Second Bloom" wherein she preserves bouquets and turns dried fruits into flower arrangements, e.g. apple roses.
As for me, well these are the only crafty things I've made in the last few months *blush*:
Letter-beaded bracelets for Arn and me
***
Did you know that Russel Crowe can knit? Weird picture, eh. Et tu, Maximus?
01:36 PM
link |
Hey, I thought I was the only one who hated Flash-heavy websites:
"Incorporating Flash into an HTML page or splash screen is bad, but entire sites built with Flash are positively evil because they make the Web much less usable."
Ahh, there's hope for us diehard old-fashioned-HTML fanatics.
(link via Sushihendrix)
***
Ahoy, Gorillaz fans: The semi-imaginary British popstars are readying a collection of rarities, remixes, interactive material and new tracks entitled G-Sides, for release on February 23rd. The disc consists of two animated videos and nine tracks, eight of which were previously unavailable.
12:39 PM
link |
January 23, 2002
(Expect an LotR post from me at least once a week, heh)
Ooh, scenes from the next two films.
"I am aware of the high expectations of Tolkien's fans - like myself. But, never having imagined that I would ever play any sort of wizard, I am ill-prepared...
-- Ian McKellen, London, 14 August 1999
From Sir Ian McKellen's Grey Book
***
If you're planning to watch FotR again, here are some glitches to look out for:
ï The trail of dust on the horizon (apparently a car speeding on a New Zealand highway) right when Samwise tells Frodo that if he takes one more step, it'll be the farthest he's ever been from home. (Arn and I have tried justifying it: maybe it was just a really fast carriage? um, a wildly galloping horse?)
ï A smiling Orc during Boromir's fight-til-his-death scene.
We really didn't notice these until our friends told us about them.
***
BK toy update: my Arnold, bitten by the collect-them-all bug, has bought me five figures all in all: Gandalf, Galadriel, Arwen, Strider, and Gimli. Sadly, Frodo and Legolas are completely out of stock in all the branches we checked.
Hi, Jenn! (:
01:05 PM
link |
I managed to get my hands on 9-11 Emergency Relief last weekend, courtesy of Arnold's connections. Released early this month by Alternative Comics, 911 is a benefit book - anthology featuring some of the independent comic world's leading talents.
In contrast to the more mainstream (read: full color, gloss, big names) Heroes tribute book from Marvel which features one-page pinups to commemorate the courageous sacrifices of police, fire and rescue workers, 9-11 presents personal accounts of over 80 cartoonists' experiences related to the tragedy in low-brow black-and-white.
Note: I haven't read it entirely and found some of the stories touching but repetitive. It was Will Eisner's simple, one-page illustration of a TV bleeding from the news footage that really had the most impact.
PopMatters' interview with the artists
***
For my Arnold baby: France 2 will soon release the first animated series entirely written, designed and directed by Jean Giraud/Moebius: "Arzak Rhapsody"
(news courtesy of Ramon)
11:59 AM
link |
January 21, 2002
Turkish deeelight, anyone?
Aha, right after I wonder aloud if Tolkien's contemporary C.S. Lewis's Narnia series will ever reach the big screen, Ramon informs us that yes, the movie rights are being optioned. Walden Media has partnered with the C.S. Lewis company to bring "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" to feature films for the first time (it has been adapted for television in the past).
Wonderful! They're not releasing it until 2004 though so that gives us enough time to savor the LOTR trilogy.
***
On a different note, this is yet another sign of Disney's diminishing creativity. (Didn't 1991's Hook have a very similar premise?) As Arnold says, "Oh no, not another unoriginal 2-hour commercial for their merchandise."
09:54 AM
link |
January 19, 2002
"The Ring! What shall we do with the Ring? That is the purpose for which you were called here."
- The Council of Elrond
FOTR in Lego
(via Bleu Blog)
01:48 PM
link |
They've been showing the Dune TV mini-series over and over on Cinemax lately. I actually saw the complete three-parter more than a year ago when I gave Arnold the set and he insisted that I watch it with him. Now if you're too lazy (like me) to read the novel, the series will fill you in with details that David Lynch left out in his 1984 adaptation, plus it's said to have captured Frank Herbert's narrative, composition-wise, more accurately. (Well it should -- it's almost 5 hours long.) And with today's technology, of course the sets and effects are much better than in the movie.
That doesn't mean though that you shouldn't watch Lynch's version, imperfections and all. The original cast, boxy ornithopter, cheesy internal monologues and misregistered blue eyes are part of what makes it the cult classic that it is.
***
Aha, it seems like Zoo has sent some surfers this way again. Hope you all enjoy your stay.
01:22 PM
link |
I hope Nev starts writing on her blog again... Arnold and I went out with her, Ramon, Quark and girlfriend Lia the other night and had a wonderful time catching up on chismis about common friends (and non-friends), and talking about current and future projects, FOTR, Alan Moore, Haruki Murakami's books, Filbars, Steve Jobs, and Lea Salonga's performance in Proof, among countless other things. It was no surprise that we lost track of the time and ended our party at around past 1 am. Until the next one, guys (:
***
I keep forgetting to write about this: The 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition of Tron is now available (calm down, Arn-baby) and comes complete with an 88-minute "The Making of Tron" documentary, storyboard-to-film comparisons, and inspirational designs by futuristic artists Syd Mead, Jean "Moebius" Giraud and Peter Lloyd
12:04 PM
link |
January 17, 2002
Arnold and I absolutely adore the Dimitri from Paris videos.
They make me wish I had more time to develop my drawing style, which *sigh* undecidedly fluctuates from serious-realistic to kiddie-sketchy to computer-enhanced.
Someday...
***
Speaking of drawing styles, I found this Etch-a-Sketch Gallery via Coudal.
Note: I can actually Etch-a-Sketch Arnold's face, no kidding.
10:54 AM
link |
January 16, 2002
Now how ironic is it that just after posting that last bit, I go to our kitchen to find that my breakfast would have been spam (yes, the Hormel variety) had I woken up early.
11:20 AM
link |
My Arn so sweetly surprised me with this Galadriel figure (plus a glass of tasty halo-halo) when he came by yesterday. Aww, thanks again baby.
It might take us a while to complete the set since *anyone* can only eat so much BK in a week -- although Neva informed us that the toys can be purchased without having to get a burger meal.
***
Hi Shiloah! I hope that transfer to Nowhereville, Manila is going smoothly (:
***
Today's fab anti-spam lesson, The Hivelogic Email Address Encoder & Javascript Wrap is courtesy of Luis, whose neatly-designed site has a great collection of Mac-related links.
And so my battle with spam continues. Arggh. It's not as bad as before since it only comes in trickles of 6 or 7 per day now, but wish me luck, nonetheless.
10:40 AM
link |
"C'mon people, how many fire demons has Merlin killed? How many times has he come back from the dead by the proclamation of God himself? Is Merlin considered the wisest person to have lived in his world? No, Solomon was, while Gandalf is considered the wisest to ever grace Middle Earth and Aman. No contest."
Agree or disagree?
***
Some other bizarre-o fights, for your entertainment:
ï Gokou vs. Tetsuo
ï Buffy vs. Dracula
ï Jeannie vs. Genie
ï Moses vs. Yoda (eh?)
ï Elvira vs. Vampirella
(Comic Book Universe Battles Hall of Fame)
09:57 AM
link |
January 15, 2002
The Gandalf figure my wonderful Arn got me the other day now sits grandly on top of the computer. If only it were possible for him to protect my e-mail gateway from evil spammers: "Go back to the Shadow. You CAN NOT pass!" (*thunderclap*)
12:11 PM
link |
Sorry but I couldn't resist another Fellowship of the Ring-related post. Arn and I are even planning to watch it a 3rd time this weekend, heh.
Some of the more memorable movie moments (spoilers ahead):
1. The *entire* Mines of Moria sequence capped with Gandalf's battle with the Balrog. Fly, you fools!
2. Saruman and Gandalf's wizard's duel at Isengard (a game of Magic will never be the same with those visuals in mind).
3. The fellowship waist-deep in snow along the mountain's rim except for Legolas who was lightly skimming the surface.
4. Lothlorien: Galadriel's temptation. "I pass the test. I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Galadriel"
11:48 AM
link |
Been reviewing our calendar and it looks like both Arn and me will be terribly busy this first quarter. My cousin once told me "congratulations on being swamped with work" and proceeded to say that freelancers don't usually have it good, especially in these times -- which is true I guess.
***
I recently had to turn down invitations to talk in advertising and graphic design-related lectures in these universities so in the coming months, I'll be working on a section in my portfolio site that students can just click to read what those lectures should have been.
Note: Not that I'm an authority, mind you. It's just that I also want to impart what I've learned in my 9 years of hands-on experience.
***
Shelle, Arnold made that dancing star for me (:
***
Yay, please welcome Genie online. Go, girl!
11:06 AM
link |
January 13, 2002
Postscript to my previous entry: My ever-thoughtful Arnold, who is at a mall right this minute with his brothers, just phoned to say that he got me a Gandalf, haha. Cosmic! Thanks so much, baby!
06:06 PM
link |
Arnold and I watched LOTR again this weekend and agreed that it actually gets better with each viewing. I guess that with the initial skepticism (of whether the screenplay, direction, production design and acting are worthy of Tolkien's masterpiece) out of the way, we were able to focus more on watching it solely for entertainment. I won't bore you with details but I can say that it really is a good retelling, and although not perfect, is sure to have raised the bar in fantasy film-making in this age.
Note: Makes me wonder now if Tolkien's contemporary, C.S. Lewis's works will ever go the film route. (Hmm, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe would make a lush production.)
***
Also found out from Arn's 7-year-old nephew Gian that a kid's meal at Burger King (+ P70) will entitle you to an LOTR character card and plastic toy figurine. Gian's Frodo toy looks pretty cool but I'll most likely get myself a Gandalf, given the chance. (Oh, we later learned that the Legolas figures sold the most, tsk tsk.)
05:13 PM
link |
January 11, 2002
Alas, lounge music afficionados, Juan Garcia EsquivÈl, "father of Space Age pop" has passed away.
He died from the effects of a stroke on 3 January 2002. It's fitting that he lived to see the new century in, since his music was often well ahead of its time.
(link via Beatnikpad)
I'm not big on those kitschy "boink-boink, zoo zoo zoom" sound effects (and much prefer the "oohs and aahs" of lo-fi French pop) but Esquivel's genius should not be taken lightly:
He honed his talent providing background music for a daily radio show where he'd be asked things like "Can you play something that sounds like a Russian guy walking through China?" and somehow would be able to do it.
ï Space Age Bachelor Pad Music
10:06 AM
link |
Thought you'd like to know that I gave in to temptation and installed Opera. The first thing I noticed is that pages seem to load almost instantly and yay, Google searches can be made on the browser itself. So for 10 minutes I happily used it the way I normally would my trusty IE -- until I thought of checking how this site looks in it. Big mistake, that. It looks even worse than it does on Netscape. (I urge you never to look here using Opera, please. It's a designer's worst nightmare. *sigh*)
09:11 AM
link |
January 9, 2002
(Arn's dad was in Baguio last week so I'm munching away on chocolate flakes pasalubong as I type this entry. Thanks, dad!)
The album Arnold and I designed for Mr. Ryan Cayabyab is out! You can see the entire package here.
***
I'm currently working on two website projects and I thought I'd take a blog break to share with you some nifty web tricks I ran across during my scripts-hunting sprees:
ï Where has that browser been?
ï Flying clickable GIFs
ï Webpage transitions
ï Script-generators
ï Robot exclusion
***
This article plus Susan's endorsement has got me all curious about the Opera browser's supposed lightning speed page loading time. I've already downloaded it but am having second thoughts about installing -- a system extension-related crash some months ago has made me wary of freeware. Ahoy, fellow Mac users?
11:37 AM
link |
January 8, 2002
We finally saw LOTR and I'm at a loss for proper words to describe the awe I felt watching it. I know the story well enough, having seen the Ralph Bakshi version years ago, so I thought this movie was able to portray Middle Earth the way it was intended. Arnold enjoyed it as well but, being a Tolkien purist (and a fantasy artist himself), had some valid comments. At any rate go and see it, it's definitely worth the three hours of your planet time.
***
*gasp* A That's Entertainment alumnus actually made the cut in a John Frankenheimer movie? So sorry for ever doubting your judgment of talent, kuya Germs*.
(news via Cinemalibre egroups)
Wow, so I guess that now makes a grand total of ta-dah, three successful That's "products" -- the other two being VJ Donita and the (genuinely) talented Lea Salonga! That's about 1% of the show's entire cast of alumni.
*That's Entertainment, local comedian German Moreno's teen discovery show in the 80s, was notorious for catapulting talent-less token pretty faces to stardom.
01:33 AM
link |
January 6, 2002
Sunday morning "exuberance":
(link c/o my crazy brother)
***
Arnold and I attended my gradeschool friend Bella's very lovely wedding yesterday and though my calves still ache from walking around all evening in 3-inch heels, I can say that the whole formal occasion dressing-up experience is always something to look forward to -- isn't that right, girls?
Note: It's amazing how guys can remain unaffected by the whole big social event thing. Arn usually only brings out what he'll be wearing one night before the event (and still ends up looking mighty spiffy) whereas I have to "plan my look" at least a week in advance.
11:24 AM
link |
January 3, 2002
Mmm, don't these look too good to eat?
Kate Spade cookies
***
My Arn loved this:
(via Elise)
***
Another 2001 spoof:
Dammit, Dave
by Pulitzer-winning playright David Mamet
***
And finally, if you have too much stuff you want to get rid of, then go ahead and
Cool idea. I'm in!
***
Ooh, thanks for the lovely e-cards, Genie and Shiloah (:
10:49 AM
link |
January 2, 2002
May you have a Happy News year!
-- swiped from a copywriter friend's sms.
***
So how did I spend the first day of 2002? Arnold came over after lunch and we decided to just stay in and relax (hey, Crouching Tiger and then David Blaine were on AXN). My bro also lent us his DC so that pretty much took care of the rest of our evening.
Arn's flavor of the month: the Smash Pack series, compilations of old Megadrive games preserved in all their 16-bit glory.
***
Guess it's back to work for me today -- but no, no, no, I won't have to work my way through heavy traffic every morning along with the entire Metro Manila workforce! Not anymore *smile* (So can you tell that I looove being self-employed?).
***
Oh, my friend Naomi is taking her road test in a few days (good luck, Yo). She's been driving for years but they're stingier with licenses over at British Columbia, which is actually a good thing. Here, the right to drive can be had in exchange for some amount of money or if you have power of some sort, tsk tsk.
Note: Now can I just say that I earned mine the honest way, even if the tests consisted of answering a very easy multiple choice questionnaire (you're given the review sheet an hour before) and, um, driving forward, backward and around the LTO parking lot, duh. That was 8 years ago so I don't know if the quality of the tests have improved since then.
02:19 PM
link |
January 1, 2002
It's five hours into the new year on this side of the planet so I've decided to answer this survey:
1. What was your biggest accomplishment this last year? Turning my back on my high-paying but too stressful job in advertising (where I invested nine years of career life) and going freelance.
I wouldn't have had the guts to do so without Arn and my parents' unwielding support and encouragement.
2. What was your biggest disappointment? A certain person I used to call my "friend". (Yes, her.)
3. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions? Um, I should. (Obviously procrastination is my worst enemy).
4. Where do you wish you were celebrating? "Where" doesn't really matter as long as I'm with Arnold and my family. (:
5. What do you plan to do for New Year's Eve? We actually just came from hearing New Year's Eve mass at the village chapel, and are now getting ready for media noche.
With all that said, I wish everyone -- all my friends, relatives-- and especially those of you who make it a point to drop by and see what I've written here every single day (that includes YOU, Arnold baby), a warm and peaceful 2002. Thank you for being part of our lives somehow. (:
03:41 AM
link |
Looking for something?