The Weekday Blues.

It is just after the extended Memorial Day weekend. Work has started again, and I am just tired. Many seem to be dragging as well. Plus, our deadlines remain the same. Don't you just hate it when that happens? Well, it turns out I'm just in the mood for this song. I love the song, but the video is ... interesting. Well, check it out regardless. You might like it. Visit the One Republic website for the full official version that Universal refuses to share on YouTube. Bastards.

A Busy Memorial Day weekend.

How do you get designers to work faster? By telling them that they can leave at 3pm if their work is done for an even longer Memorial Day weekend. And that's exactly what happened! I got out at 3:30pm on Friday! Fun! And thus started a busy weekend! I vacuumed my entire apartment, went out to eat with Michael at Cheesecake Factory, and did grocery shopping. I also managed to score some awesome deals at The Forum Shops, ordered a pair of hot shoes online, and finally updated my MySpace page! Time flies, and now the long weekend is over! The weather was great this weekend, and I am enjoying this cool break before the blistering summer heat comes!

On a side note, I am SO excited that I will be visiting my good friend Michael in Portland, Oregon in 2+ weeks. I'll be there for 4 whole days, immersing myself in a smorgasboard of culture! Emo sk8r-punk boys, Birkenstock-wearing lesbians, blues poetry at quaint coffee shops, quaintly-cute neighborhood dives, artsy-funk shops, Portland Pride ... its gonna be so much fun! This will also be our first physical meeting, and I am looking forward to it. Just what will he be like? He just moved into a cute studio, and he's now a free man! Got all his stuff situated, and he even tipped his movers. What a guy! Being in the fantastic NW Area means there's going to be lots to explore! I can't wait!

And yes, I know way too many guys with the name Michael.

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia, the best resource there is!

Proof that Originality is Dead!

You wanna live in the zip ... you've got to live by the code. That's a smart tagline. CW has apparently decided to resurrect Aaron Spelling's best hit of the '90s. 90210 is back, with a diverse all-new cast and an edgy, contemporary style. That catchy tune we all know is still here, as is that high-school atmosphere and teen soap-drama we all love to eat up like chocolate cake on a bad day. Now, I was never a fan of the original, so I can't say how great it was. Great enough to be a wondrous hit, that much I know. Even growing up in Malaysia, I heard about it. And now its back. Hollywood is just rehashing all these classic hits, updating them with today's relevance and hoping to catch the fans of yesteryears. Clearly, they're running out of ideas. So we will find out this Fall if 90210 can reclaim the fame it once had. Tori has given her support. Maybe Shannon Doherty should guest star. That would be a well-watched episode!

Italian on the Pallette

Yesterday, an acquaintance took me to a little italian eatery called Tinoco's Bistro for lunch. Its a cute, artsy and eclectic little spot in the (downtown) Arts Factory. The tables are all artists palettes of sorts, and the whole place is done is a patina like scheme, which gives it its rustic loft vibe. The food and service is excellent, and the prices are not much worse than Cheesecake Factory. I am all for these mom-and-pop establishments that have a culture, personality, atmosphere and identity of their own. Its truly a hidden gem, and you should check it out. In a day and age where we are swamped with chains, a break from them is always a welcome distraction!

One step closer to Equality.

I'm not usually one to follow LGBT news very closely, but this one warrants an honorable mention. May 15, 2008. In a 4-3 vote, the California Supreme Court ruled that domestic partnership isn't enough, and gave their blessing that marriage is based on love and the ability to raise a family, not sexual orientation. Thus, same-sex marriage is deemed legal in the most populous US state, making California the second state that condones same-sex marriage. You don't have to be a resident to obtain a marriage license, but of course, your license would only be recognized only in Massachusetts. A monumental victory indeed. Throngs of wonderful people celebrated the decision in the San Francisco City Hall, and many couples have already made marriage proposals and appointments for marriage licenses. But the fight isn't over yet. Far from it. Religious right-wingers are rallying to delay the implementation of the new ruling while escalating their efforts to put a nationwide Constitutional amendment that would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman thus outlawing same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships altogether). Of course, the LGBT community is pressing even more fervently across the nation to protect their hard-earned victory. Who can blame them? And I completely support them. The presidential elections are coming up very soon, and you have 2 minority leads in that race. It will be a very interesting, tense and terse environment. And just how will Nevada fare out? We have a lot of Californian residents here, and Las Vegas is one of the most popular destination to tie-the-knot (hokey drive-thru weddings notwithstanding, of course). We could use some help with this economic downturn, and we always support love. Stay tuned to gay.com for the latest updates!

An influx of good stuff!

What a busy week it has been. The weather is warming up. I've been insanely busy at work, being part of a team putting together a new book for a potential new client. Its exciting, but its also time consuming. And of course, we get our due dates upped on us. Such is the course of being in the working world.

On the other hand, some good stuff has popped up during the week too. Thanks to a bidder service company, I received my Witchblade figure from Japan, and it looks absolutely stunning. Now I have both of Kotobukiya's Witchblade figures, and they look great as a pair. Yes, I know, I took them out of their boxes ... but I bought them for my personal pleasure, not to keep them sealed away so they can appreciate in value. I also received 3 DVDs (Tweeny Witches v2, xxxHOLiC v2, and the Tsubasa/xxxHOLiC Movie Double Feature). And the best thing of all was that I finally received a letter (for my Labor Certification) from one of my previous agencies that I have been requesting for a few weeks. Now the other one needs to get on the ball and get it done. Sheesh! Its a very simple letter that's already been drafted for them. What's more, its the actual truth this time, as opposed to the last time when my previous nutcase-of-an-attorney advised me to cheat the system.

Beyond that, it's looking to be a great weekend. Though its gonna be in the 100s ... so hydrate!

Free Money from the IRS? Really?

So...upon checking my balance last Friday, I noticed a credit from the US Treasury. Now this is not your usual tax returns, but rather a bonus called the Economic Stimulus 2008 Fund. Available up to $600, depending of various factors. Now, we all love extra money, but will this plan actually boost this downward-spiraling economy? Only time will tell. But from a logical point, it doesn't look like its working the way they planned. If you have any outstanding debt, you'll use it to reduce that amount. That doesn't help because its already an existing expense. Anyone who can afford to shop don't need such aid. If you stash it into your savings account, it goes nowhere and does nothing for the economy. According to the statement they sent out, your $600 won't be taxed, nor is it an advance from next year's tax returns. So...how is this helping to stimulate the economy and make people spend money? What will you do with that money? Is the current political climate and foreign relations playing a much bigger role?

Of Rice and Responsibilities.

Rumor has it that there is a severe global rice shortage. Well, it may be true now, after Cyclone Nargis hit the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar just this past week. But prior to that...there is actually a surplus of rice. But due to bad weather, higher food costs due to rising fuel prices, and human neurosis, rice hoarding has started to occur, as well as export limitations/bans. Costco and Sam's Club has started limiting the amount of rice each customer can purchase. One could blame corn ethanol and drilling limitations as causes, but I highly doubt it. Corn is grown in different types of soil, and yields hardly enough fuel to replace oil. And increasing the number of oil drilling locations would be a very short-term solution at best. Destroy the environment, deplete the resources. Not a smart move. Instead, we need to keep on plugging away at finding a fuel alternative that is environmentally friendly, is efficient, and can be manufactured on a very large scale. Oh, and yes, we need to stop being so wasteful! Why do we need Hummers and SUVs? Why do we only eat one bite out of our meals? We are all the cause, and only we can solve it.

PS. So today I got charged an additional $1 for the rice that came with my dinner tonight. Some places charge you for second servings. Some charge you for rice that goes with your takeout. Some charge you regardless. A few still don't. But remember that rice is a major component in many other basic ingredients, such as flour. And no flour means no cakes or pasta! There's proof that a rice shortage is coming into reality.

Matcha Mania!

FINALLY! I managed to track down Tazo's Green Tea Latte Concentrate. I've heard about this for quite some time, but can never find it in grocery stores or any Starbucks. Ironic, ain't it? Its a Starbucks product, and they use it as a base when they make their Green Tea Frappucinos and Lattes. And where did I find it? At a Seattle's Best Coffee (same parent, different franchise altogether) inside a Borders in Summerlin! Weird, but whatever. It's an awesome treat for those times I want a sweeter tea. Just mix it half-and-half with skim milk and you're done. Since the honeydew-melon syrup is a tad bit too sweet (I like mine a little more tea-like), I usually add in a couple spoons of matcha powder, to give it a kick. Try it for yourself and experience some Tazo green goodness!

PS. The new designs for Tazo's packaging is interesting. All that intricate Middle-Eastern details has been pared down, and the color palette has been brightened and/or neutralized. It stands out on the shelf, as it's very basic and detailed at the same time, while not being flooded with images/illustrations, save one. And that one I am not too fond off. But its better than what's usually out there. Most importantly, the product itself is good, albeit a little pricey.

Alpha Kitty Awesomeness!

So check out Alpha Kitty on YouTube. They've got an absolutely series on NYC Fashionistas being themselves and sharing their passions. It can be anything and everything. It's very clean, simple, basic, and yet has a style that doesn't obstruct the message, yet gets the idea across. Very fun, pop, kitsch ... just pure genius at a raw level. This one here is one of my favorite, and has a very important message as well.

The (food) chain secrets!

So check THIS out. Men's Health has put together a list of 16 well loved restaurant chains that have been keeping their nutritional information a secret. Why? Simple. There is no legislation that makes restaurants post their nutritional information on their menus. In addition, there isn't a formal definition of many terms used to describe food, so restaurants can use plenty of catchy words and phrases, they may mean nothing. And thus obesity is still on the rise, despite people believing that they're making better food choices. So ... what's really in that burger you're chowing down on?

Too Little, Too Late.

As of right now, the number of casualties in Myanmar reaching 100,000 or more is a very real possibility. Cyclone Nargis swiped and wiped the Irrawaddy Delta, causing a huge loss on the world's rice supply (which was already in jeopardy due to economic depression). Myanmar's government downplayed the severity of the cyclone, and the militaristic Junta didn't respond when the Nargis did hit. In fact, the Junta has just (very grudgingly) allowed foreign aid to the areas affected. Due to that, thousands more will die due to lack of clean water, food, shelter and fighting (much less money). Why the Junta is so anti-foreign aid is beyond me, but their lack of prompt action cost them a big chance to win the hearts and souls of the Nargis survivors. Ridiculous. How a country is supposed to make progress when it insists on being absolutely self-reliant (with a military-style way ruling to boot) is beyond me. Even now when they're (barely) allowing any form of aid in, they insist on hijacking that aid and slapping a self-promoting label, just to boost their own image for the upcoming elections. How low can you get? It's very shady, and very sad. My best wishes to the survivors and those living there.

PS. My wishes goes to the people of northeast Japan who survived the recent 7.2-magnitude earthquake.

An oldie but a goodie!

Las Vegas Pride was this weekend. I managed to see the Parade on Friday night, but skipped the rest of the festivities. It was quite a huge turnout, and I am sure the clubs were packed! As such, here's an old song I enjoy, and I hope you do too. Aaron made me do it.

Mokona + Alethiometer + Straight Razor + Book of Spells = Entertainment!

So I recently got in some DVDs. Much needed. I'll post my thoughts soon.

xxxHOLiC volume 1 + Artbox

The Golden Compass Exclusive Best Buy 3-Disc Edition

Sweeney Todd 2-Disc Special Edition

Tweeny Witches volume 1 + Artbox

Uno gets published!

Having done character designs for Witchblade, Uno Makoto's style of artwork has always been quite unique. While certainly identifiable as anime, Makoto has a perchant for drawing his women with a large set of knockers. Witchblade was a challenge for him, due to Top Cow's mandatory requirements for their property, and the fact that it was basically a monster design challenge. Nevertheless, he succeeded with great success. Having said that, I managed to snag these two books, and I must say I am quite happy with them.

The Witchblade Official Visual Fan Book is a nice anthology of materials related to the anime series. My favorite is the 'Characters & Settings' section, where we get to see several designs and sketches of the characters that make up the Witchblade universe. Some of them are too small and detailed though, and should have been bigger. MUCH bigger. If I could read Japanese, I'm sure the 'Cast Interviews' section would be fun as well. Two additional sections ('Story' and 'Illustration Gallery') rounds up the book.

UNO! Uno Makoto Artworks is a collection of the artists' portfolio. Here, you do get HUGE Witchblade illustrations, including the ones from the R2 DVD packaging (missing from the other book) and that gorgeous collage of characters used in the second ending sequences. You also get great works of art from Gravion, Stellvia, Dragonaut, and even some of Uno's original artwork.

If you're a fan of Uno Makoto's excellent artwork, these books come high recommended. Get them while they're still readily available.

Someday...we'll shine together.

One of my favorite anime titles, Revolutionary Girl Utena, is getting a breath of fresh life in Japan. Director Kunihiko Ikuhara, is painstakingly doing a HD remaster for all of us. The 39-episode Tv series, stage musical, theatrical movie and soundtracks are all getting rereleased in three Box Sets. Great! But what's not so great? Well, its still on DVD and thus, R2 encoded. I'd have to buy a rerelease of this rerelease when it hits Blu-Ray. No english subtitles. And one helluva hefty pricetag, as everything will cost about U$D700+!!! I'll definitely be getting the remastered Soundtrack Box Set. But the DVDs themselves? I want to...bad! Now, one would say that I could wait for it to be released in R1 land. But I absolutely hated CPM's poor handling of the title, and I have very little faith that they will do any better if they're given a chance to. Guess I had better start saving up if I want to see any of my beloved Utena in her new revival glory.

Le Manned Cloud

So we've seen the Hindenburg come and go. We see airships of all sorts in Final Fantasy. Well, it might become a reality in 2020. But it is not for war, or strictly transportation. Nope! Jean-Marie Massaud is collaborating with ONERA to create a flying, full-service hotel that's also highly efficient and environmentally friendly. Sporting the organic shape of a whale, the 700-foot-long 'Manned Cloud' will feature a massive propellor at its tail, along with two directional ones to ensure that refueling only needs to happen every 3100 miles. 15 crew members will serve 40 passengers (per trip) while it cruises at a relaxing speed of 80-mph. 20 guest rooms will be available, along with many familiar amenities such as a full-service spa, fine dining and even a library. The views from the panoramic windows and sundeck should be absolutely breathtaking, as will the price. But hey, you only live once. What's life worth to you?