Love those buns

Various kinds of buns to choose from during Noche Buena. Have had this craving for spaghetti for weeks now along with bread. Got my wish on Christmas Eve.

Stormtrooper telenovela (pics taken from the net)

After the Death Star was destroyed, hundreds of Imperial Stormtroopers, scattered across the galaxy, had nowhere to go. A platoon was stranded on Earth. With no means of communications, they tried their best to blend in. But it wasn't easy as they had to battle depression, a different language(s), culture, and the fact that they couldn't carry their rifles around. So what's a Stormtrooper to do?

Some couldn't handle it and turned to alcohol or watching Korean telenovelas. If that proved even more depressing, they committed suicide. Talk about being stranded.

The tough thing about being a Stormtrooper on Earth is that people think you're a weirdo for a minute then decide to not mind you at all. "Just another bum," they mutter. So no one wants to sit beside them in the subway.
Some got into trouble and the local law officers weren't amused. Who knows what technology there is inside their armor?
But after a couple of months, a sense of normalcy returned to them as they found the enjoys of malling and buying groceries. It sure comes in handy to have some valuable minerals from out space that they traded in for cash, cable television, and PS3!

A pleasant discovery

Some of my favorite CDs by one of my fave bands. I was ecstatic to find out that they survived the loss of my property during Ondoy as I left them in my parents' house.

White Christmas?

This was taken by a New York Times photographer the other day when winter came in early and dumped a couple of inches of snow on the east coast. Like I always say, snow is pretty to look at from the inside and it sounds cool for just about five minutes before you hate it.

At the Ateneo Alumni Homecoming Dec. 12, 2009

Tuesday tumbler (my jagged thoughts for the day)

Spent the last couple of days listening to a bunch of my fave music: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Passion Pit, Tamar Kaprelian, the Antlers, the Bravery, and one old familiar in Darryl Hall in his Live from David's House music on youtube. Angry at my boss for his low EQ and for being an ass. Am getting my new Macbook Pro. Excited about that. Wish I could buy a new tennis shoe. Have to budget my time between four major projects. Well, that means compartmentalizing things. There are some DVDS I want to get: Star Trek, Wolverine, and GI Joe. Yes, I can finally get my Lyon jersey. Wahoo! There is hope! If things go right, I'll be off to the World Cup in South Africa this 2010. Whoo. That will be a fulfillment of a dream. And there's a possibility of Switzerland as well. I just discovered the Discovery Channel magazine and I love it. Am planning on doing a series of talks on climate change for the new year. And two cool projects. Need to buy some nice leather shoes. Gotta finish that documentary. My fave coffee is Pokka Cappuccino. Will have my drink of it later. Upset that Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was cancelled. Damn. That's two that I really like: Sarah Connor and Josh Whedon's Firefly. Speaking of DVDs, I'd like to get the Band of Brothers collected set. Do I feel it's Christmas? Kind of. First time I felt it in years. Wonder what that means? Can't wait for the third issue of Rebound to come out. Ditto with the 2010 Ateneo Sports Calendars. I have to check and plan all of the things I will be involved with next year. It's going to be crazy.

Everything Your Heart Desires by Darryl Hall Live from Darryl's House

I became a fan of Hall and Oates when I first heard "She's Gone." Talk about Philly soul music, huh? Then came "Wait for Me" that is one of my faves when I first got into music. This song, "Everything Your Heart Desires" was released in the late 80's just as new wave was done and a good friend of mine, John Flores, sent this to me. I think this version, a jam one, is better. I'm sure you'll love it too.

musicforthemorningafterabreakup

Yesterday, I picked up the Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson album "Break Up." I've been a fan of Yorn's ever since his musicforthemorningafter album came out. I've always ranked that as one of my fave "break up" concept albums alongside Prefab Sprout's "Steve McQueen." Although I don't have any of his succeeding two albums (I have no idea why), I did love his version of the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" from the Ramones tribute album We're A Happy Family of several years ago.

As for Scarlett Johansson, since Lost In Translation, I've been a fan of this actress and am eagerly anticipating her part in Iron Man II. In Lost in Translation, that excellent and bittersweet movie by Sophia Copolla, she did some karaoke with Bill Murray. Not really the best voice but not bad. Kinda earthy and sexy. And it sure was nice (and maybe brave) of her to sing the Pretenders' "Brass In Pocket."

So when she cut this album where she was on board as a real collaborator with Yorn, I just had to get it. One can say that Johansson's voice might be weak and maybe they're right but it seems just right for this album.

At first listen I thought I was listening to a Raconteurs album (see Jack White). But as Yorn describes it, it's his way of doing an album that he described as in the style of Serge Gainsbourg and Bridgett Bardot. And it may not be for everyone but I love the charm, honesty, and simplicity of the music. One of my fave pick ups of the year.

The journey is everything. You have no idea.

This covers an 18-month period of my life that changed me forever. It will be out in the next few weeks but only through the Ateneo Alumni Association office.

Calling on FOX TV, you just gotta bring back the Sarah Connor Chronicles!

Lunch at Krung Thai

Krung Thai has been for years one of my favorite restos here in the metropolis. Tucked away beside the public market in Sta. Elena, Marikina (corner of W. Paz and and M. Cruz Streets), this small resto is one of the best in terms of value for money. Went there last November 17 with a good friend and we had a hearty lunch to top our catching up with one another.

Remember that line from the movie Falling Down where a man yells, "I am not economically viable!" This shot reminds me of that. Bwahahaha!

I have 500 reasons to love this film

This review from Rolling Stone magazine: "Boy meets girl, boy loses girl. It's been done to emo death. That's why the sublimely smart-sexy-joyful-sad (500) Days of Summer hits you like a blast of pure romantic oxygen."

You know what they say about pics telling a story...

I was a fan of PULP when it first came out. It was a music magazine that was larger than life. I bought it every month, read them, and bagged them. But after a bit, I thought that the photography overtook the writing. I didn't want to compare but I eventually did. The feature stories well, didn't resonate well with me. So I stopped. I would pick up the odd issue when something struck my fancy. So when I heard of this book -- a book of the best photos of the first 10 years of the magazine, I had to pick it up. Honestly, I love it. Sadly though, for a music mag, I remember them more for the pics than any of the writing.

Menu or Bwahahaha!

Have a laugh. Please.

Arch Enemy in Manila

In the last few months, I've sort of gone back to listening to a lot of harder music. I thought that was something I left behind in the US. I bought some Arch Enemy CDs in New York. Almost caught them there but instead saw some other bands. I never thought I'd see them in Manila but it's fine.
Posing at the life size standees of the band with some former officemates at Solar Sports who also went to the concert. If you notice the plugs at Solar Sports and BTV -- these guys got excellent taste when it comes to music.

Wish I had a better camera to capture the band. The show, I can describe in two words -- "fucking brutal." Worth every cent. I think my brain is still rumbling. 
What can I say about Angela Gossow? Love hot chicks in leather. Yeah. And what a frontwoman for a band. She totally defined and changed the course of this Swedish outfit. 

I think my neighbor's car is an Autobot in disguise

The Vince Noir Project - Wha' A Git

My fave Rogue magazine covers

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Monkey Parliament

If this is how British graffiti artist Banksy interpreted the British Parliament, I wonder how he would depict the Philippine government. I should drop Banksy a line.

Ateneo Art Auction 2009

The committee that put2gether the 2009 Ateneo Art Auction. This was organized to help with the scholarship fund but it was also decided to provide some funds also for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. 
With painter/advertising man/mediaman Ramoncito Cruz. His two paintings, done in acrylic and canvass, are in the background.
The Dancer in Yellow by Ferdinand Cacnio. I like this painting and wanted to get it. Just didn't have extra cash for it.
Swela Mela Chela. An oil, wood, and graphite construct by Australian painter Tony Twigg. This is one of my faves for this auction. Sure was fun chatting with him.
Blue Waters an acrylic painting on wood by young painter Virgilio "Pandy" Aviado. If it's obvious, I took pix of the stuff I like. And there's the Pauline by Lynyrd Paras that fetched what -- almost half a million -- that was the subject of intense bidding between Dr. Leo Garcia and this hot chick in tight clothing. Wow.
Doc Leo Garcia and Leo Rialp, stage actor and auctioneer, discuss some matters before the start of the auction.
The auction was held at Finale Art File, La Fuerza Compound along Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City. I love the venue which was like one of those warehouse lofts that became famous in New York in the 90's. Loved the set-up/layout of the place too. 
Shots of the crowd. There were more than a hundred people in attendance with many in the back because of the cocktail tables. Had a few glasses of wine. Now I can't work. Dammit.

Marikina River 9:45am Saturday October 3, 2009

Take a look at this shot. You will notice the cogon grass and other garbage underneath the Marcos Bridge that connects Barangka and Pasig City. That means the flood water reached that high. Jeez.

The view from underneath the LRT Line 2. You have to wonder if all that water has loosed up the ground in this area and has affected the LRT. I hope not. But they have to check this out once the rains stop and the water recedes.

The water has already spilled over to the road. But this is a low area of the road from Riverbanks to Libis.