For your MP3 collection, part 31

Mactan, Cebu, Philippines

Cameron Steele:"Stony Road"-creeped out

Disa:"Fast Train"-slow ride

Electritribe:"Magichant"-anthem of the wild

Great Lake Swimmers:"Gonna Make It Through This Year"-for a friend

Maryos:"African Era"-three acts, five minutes

Neimo:"Echoing Pixels"-depressed Frenchman in time warp

Ocoeur:"She's Sleeping"-tunnel hearing

Oilboy's aftersun:"Shake it, don't break it"-five-word dance

Shugo Tokumaru:"Parachute"-all day holiday

Sojo Glider:"Heather"-acoustic confrontation

Wild Honey:"Kings of Tomorrow"-the Spanish accent

'Twas the first beach of summer

San Antonio, Zambales

we didn't go island hopping :(

no lifeguard in sight

in front of the supposed house of an Erap "consultant"

the morning walks (foot spa)

my brother's feet

three


lost shoe

Guitars

Our art director practicing at Custom Guitars, Mactan, Cebu.

Floor Sample, a creative memoir

Unsatisfied with the selection of art materials at the bookstore, I decided to use the gift certificates on art books. After carefully choosing two thick volumes, I had P110 left to spend. Other than thin, trashy novellas, I couldn't find anything of that price in the local books section, so I headed for the sale bins. "Who is the author of The Artist's Way?" asked mama. "Julia Cameron," I replied. She showed me this.

Originally P499, slashed to half price, then finally to 80% off at a flat P100. Perfect. The universe is conspiring.

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron gives recovering creatives some direction, but in Floor Sample, it is clear that her own path has not been straightforward. It cannot be. Her interests have taken her in different directions. (I can relate to that.) But what frightens me are the challenges she faced along the way: alcoholism, failed marriages, breakdowns, frequent movement between cities. Everyone needs a support system. Artists are no exception.

I picked up my current status message from the poem in the beginning of the book: "Never forget to say thank you. Every syllable is a grace."

Santos + Borgia

Oh when the town's saints came marching in on Palm Sunday...

the AWOL St. Andrew has to be my favorite

And now for something not-so-completely different. Do you know something exciting that Jesuits are making? The Borgia Popes. That I would love to see. And if you don't know who those guys are, you will need the unofficial Catholic histories of the Church's darker days.

Holy karaoke

My birthday party (my grandmother's, actually) happened above and behind a church altar. I enjoyed four hours of videoke, alternating with my aunt on the only microphone . There was a one-hour break because of a requiem Mass.

Here's how the place looked like last year. It's drier now for some reason.

Light and woozy

I think I still have to go an extra mile after that previous post. It's not going to erase the nightmare Try this: The Last Wife [via ArtsJournal]. Then have a glass to go with it.

[via Fubiz]

Heavy and horrible

I've been resisting since yesterday, but since so many of the blogs I read have been posting about it, I thought it best to be informed and gave in. But I could not watch the short version of the civilian killings in Baghdad on WikiLeaks' Collateral Murder without stopping several times to take deep breaths.

I salute the brave souls who made it possible for the world to see the truth.

And now, time for a break. Doctor Octoroc Presents Dr. Horrible in 8-bit. Thanks, I needed that.

Meet Red

After three and a half years of companionship, it's time to let Silver go. Silver stayed with me in London and Roskilde and faithfully helped me with my essays and dissertations. But the years have taken their toll and Silver has many aches and pains. I need a savvy assistant for work and play. A new toy.


Red is quick, bright and up-to-date (though loud at times). Silver's 40GB HDD was very limiting. Red's 320GB can accommodate virtually anything I want to create. Size does matter after all.

Light painting, or how I spent Earth Hour

Lights off from 830 to 930 pm last March 27 for Earth Hour. I could only take ghostly images like this.


So with one hand on the camera, I took my laptop charger and fiddled with it a little. I only had a vague idea of the principles behind light painting, so I had to experiment a bit.

I ended up with a terrible headache, but I think it was worth the trouble.

The Strange Country + Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger + Spanish impressions

This animated infographic video isn't exactly touristy, but it has some insights into Japanese life. I hope one day I'll save up enough for a trip there. Gambatte!

Now this is a city I miss. Doesn't stray too far from the beaten path, but plays (and loads) quicker.



And lastly, an American filmmaker's impressions of Spain.

[via Feingut]

Three ways to celebrate Easter

1. Have a laugh. Try the 40+ (Funny) Error Messages You’ve Never Seen Before.


2. Get active. Practice Jumpology.


3. If you'd rather exercise your brain, get hooked on Alltop's Top Futurity News.

Happy Easter!

S.H.A.B.U.*

*To paraphrase an alternative TGIF status message: Salamat Hesus At Birthday Ulit!


another year into my late twenties!

(panic exclamation point panic!)

there's so much i can say...

but won't.

one thing i know is true:

i'm thankful, so thankful


Holy Week break starts now. Be good, keep safe and take care.

You know it's your birth month when...

The president of your alma mater sends you a love letter. Bless you, Fr. Ben. And thanks for the Sesquicentennial stamps. I'm keeping them for my collection.

Waterlife

Earth hour tonight, friends. Let's remember that the earth is two-thirds water. Turn off the tap. Take shorter showers. Enter the world of Waterlife. [via Adverblog]

Home game

There's a new sport my parents are playing around the house. It's called Fly, Fly Away. More accurately, Zap the Mosquito. You use what looks like a small plastic rechargeable tennis racquet with a flower design to electrocute the flying creatures. Mama plays it in the garden; papa wants to practice his backhand with it. The racquet sparks when it comes into contact with something in the air. Most times, I think it's just lint in the air.