Ladies Figure Skating long program + another space

I was ordered to watch the Vancouver Winter Olympics Ladies Figure Skating long program competition Friday morning, so I moved the canvas I was working on to the living room. That's how I discovered a new studio area with good lighting.

As expected, Yuna Kim of South Korea won the gold. Mao Asada of Japan looked disappointed with her silver medial. Joannie Rochette of Canada was a deserving third after performing wonderfully so soon after her mother's death. Mirai Nagasu of USA was a great find with many years of competition ahead of her. But I have to say that although though Yuna's short program James Bond medley costume was classier, Miki Ando's (JP) long program Egyptian costume was my favorite. Images at the Vancouver 2010 site.

The Trans-Siberian Railway

Vagablogging posted yesterday that the Trans-Siberian Railway is now online. Viv, who hosted me twice in the UK, told me that she took the Trans-Siberian with a friend and they enjoyed it immensely. I still can't imagine what I'd do on the world's longest railway, which spans seven times zones. What puts me off most is the state of the toilets. And there are no showers, except in First Class. The Wikitravel entry says a lot:

Perfumed wet tissues These little things can do wonders for your personal hygiene.

It's probably best to make stops along the six-day route and learn some Russian beforehand. If someone sponsors me and three friends, I would definitely go. Otherwise, it's Eurail for me.

The Guardian's 10 rules for writing fiction

It's hard to call yourself a writer when you can't write decent fiction. (That sums up my dilemma.) But The Guardian's two-part "Ten rules for writing fiction" from writers for writers makes for good non-fiction reading. A number of gems here. Quite a bit of it has to do with computers and the Internet. But I think Philip Pullman has the best one. In the end, to each his own. Follow these links for Part 1 and Part 2.

Does reverse psychology work for you?

Denmark Introduces Harrowing New Tourism Ads Directed By Lars Von Trier

Guys, remember: this is the Onion News Network. :D

[via Cinematical]

For your MP3 collection, part 29

this sign made me smile two weeks ago

Annuals:"Loxtep"-Uhh, what?

Bartois:"When I Wonder"-I worry too much

Ben + Vesper:"LuvInIdleness"-post-Valentine

Black Atlantic:"Dandelion"-uke can do it

Efterklang:"Modern Drift"-because you asked

Givers:"Up, Up, Up"-super high (until...)

Henrik José:"Pinpointing the Problem"-electropop solution

Minor Constellations:"Stalin"-about a cute communist

Mojib:"May Day Revisited(with UNKLE & The Radio Dept.)"-a bowl of mash

Tanlines:"Real Life (Memory Tapes Remix)"-for the one pining for summer

Wild Moccasins:"Fruit Tea"-just for fun

You're still here?

I've been a delinquent blogger since the month started. When there's a lot to write for work, I don't feel like blogging. But when I'm painting, I need my word fix, so I'm more consistent. Here's the news: I won't be posting daily for the next two weeks, just re-blogging other people's links.

Of course I don't write all the time (though I'm disciplined enough to look at my word processor, only turning to my browser occasionally for the thesaurus and the dictionary--you can't be a good freelancer without self-control). When darkness falls, this is what I do.


Posted about this before, remember? My team usually has three mages, one warrior. I'm not here for the fighting--the story is all that matters to me.

[via theblast]

Note to non-gamers: the cinematical is not the same as the gameplay. Here's the online casual game version: Dragon Age Journeys. Not quite like the PC game.

Since you're here anyway, please take a look at the archives or tagged posts ("labels" in the sidebar) when you can. There's three-and-a-half years' worth of stories. If you're looking for Europe posts, check out September 2006 to December 2007. Feel free to comment, especially if you've never left a comment before. I know people are reading this, but I don't know who they are. (Thanks, though!)

Happy hearts, happy tummies

Should I be rational, logical, critical and analytical today?

[xkcd via Alejandro@Oxford]

Maybe not!

rich but not too sweet

warm and comforting

and sometimes a bit mushy

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm not sure whether to saw "eww" or "aww", but if this is not cheesy enough, I don't know what else is:

My media Valentine

Come to think of it, we sort of have, but not on purpose.

[via 10,000 Words (last year's post), by way of Elaine's Google Buzz (again)]

Poll position

Remember my semi-obsession with PhD Comics? Thanks to a friend's Google Buzz, here is something relevant in this numbers game.

Speaking of Google Buzz, I'm only using it to share my blog and reader. In a way, it duplicates what I do on Facebook. We'll see it if takes off.

Things That Float

Clair de Lune. If you're in the office, consider this your lunchbreak spa.

[via theartblog]

Midweek Madness: The Muppets' Bohemian Rhapsody

I love The Muppets Studio.

[via Cinematical]

Safer Internet Day

(Was on the road for more than nine hours today. Still not in a posting mood, but thought you should know...)

The Internet has opened up so many avenues of communication and has become the means to so many different ends. It has showed mankind new and positive ways of bringing people together, but at the same time has become a playground for criminals and people with dubious intentions--a place for the best and worst in man.

Today is Safer Internet Day. Whatever your age is, whatever you do online, think before you post!

So you feel like a winner

seen along A. Tuazon Avenue, Marikina

No Superlotto winner yet. Almost P145 million at stake in tomorrow's draw. Are you betting?

I calculated the odds of winning the Lotto 6/49. Here it is: 1 in 10,068,347,520. This brings me to the conclusion that it is illogical to make a bet and that you have a better chance of meeting a fatal accident that winning. Most Filipinos see this very differently. I suppose we all need hope.

===

I'm doing some writing now, but it seems that the traveling (and more writing) will come in the next two weeks. But I always wait until print publications are out before posting, so those photos and stories will take a while. I'll be back in the groove, don't worry.