David Sedaris - Part Deux

Now that Christmas is over and Joe's opened his new favorite gift ever... I can now tell the story of how I came to find out the most mind-blowing fact of the year (see previous entry).

I went to another DS reading and I bought the Onion book he recommended (so I could have a book signed for me) and I said that the book was a rip-off bec it didn't' include my country, this was how our exchange went (imagine it with his voice):

DS: What country are you from?

Me: The Philippines

DS: Yeah, it's there... check the index

Me: (Flipping the pages) Oh yeah, it's there!

DS: I like the Philippines.

Me: W-w-what??? You've been there?

DS: Yes, in fact, I even went to Wowowee... it's pretty entertaining.

Me: (mind-blown)


So, I know they say, "if there are no pictures, it didn't happen," but whatever... he also said that he went to Hobbit House in Malate which I do wish I have a picture of... Macy*s Christmas Elf in the Hobbit House = WIN!

BWE TV's Make-Your-Own-Album-Cover Challenge: My Entry.

Pretty cool eh? I guess by disease, it refers to people afflicted with doing stupid things in the middle of the road. I'm thinking my band plays world music... with a hint of preachiness to it.

Here are the rules:

1 - Go to “wikipedia.” Hit “Random Article”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to “Random quotations”
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop/MS Paint or similar to put it all together.

5- Post it in the comments! (Using Imageshack or any photo hoster)

My Contribution to the Interwebs...

I have a couple of sites that I frequent in the interwebs (see list on the left side of the screen). Out of those sites that don't include the news sites, I visit bwe.tv daily, and pretty much refresh it every 30 minutes or so. I used to be a lurker until I decided to join in on the fun and started to be a regular commenter, not on everything, but mostly TV show recaps and on posts that interests me most.

They have recently started "Blingee Wednesdays" and since it's run, I've only missed submitting an entry once ("Judy Law"). This week it was Hugh Jackman, and wow, the entries were blingingly amazing! Out of the 121 entries, they chose the Top 40, and guess who made #3...

Myspace Glitter Graphics

I've made it.




Ed's Note: I have to agree with the #1 pick though, Jo's blingee was the.best.ever. Also, I'll be posting all my Blingeefied creations for everyone's (me) viewing pleasure. Disclaimer: Seizures may happen if you stare at Blingees too much.

Feist and I have something in common...

We both love counting to FOUR.



For me, it's FOUR more days until the Feist concert in Berkeley. Yay!

Bonnaroo Recap: Thanks Joe!

I have so many things going on right now, and since Joe's always been the better writer and photographer, I'm pretty much just stealing his recap of the Bonnaroo awesomosity!

Please click here (or to the side) to traverse to Joe's blog.

Best. Post. Ever.

As I was perusing my favorite Webby award-winning celebrity/fan site, I came upon this little gem of a post. I suggest that you click on the link to the original article... it's HIGH-larious!!! No number of exclamation points can translate how I feel about this article.

Never mind that it's from 2003. The Doody's will always remain The Faggot Family in my heart.

Ed's Note: This thing is so much funnier if you're not Brit and if you have a humor of a 12-year old.

Bonnaroo or Bust? Definitely the former.

Just got back from my trip through the Midwest and the South. I don't know how else to explain the experience, other than it being AWESOME!!!

Will post pics (and thoughts) soon.

WTF! It's May already???

It's been a while since I last posted. I don't really know why I haven't written anything. Not that I don't have anything to rant or rave about (I didn't even do an Office recap!), but I don't know, maybe I just wasn't feeling it. So, here are some of the highlights of things that have happened since Earth Day (I say highlights, but they're really just the stuff I do remember, I think I'm getting old):

• I had two final exams on 4/24, when all of a sudden, the instructor for the other class moved one of the exams the following day. I had to cancel work that day (Yes, it's sad that I am saddened by not going to work --- I sure will miss folding those sweaters). Exams went OK, could've done better. Went out for drinks with classmates after, first time I've had a cocktail in a looooooong time.
• Planned to see Baby Mama or Forgetting Sarah Marshall... ended up seeing Harold and Kumar 2. Loved it. John Cho's hot. Am still planning to see the formers.
• So stoked about the 0.31 cents per scoop promo at Baskin-Robbins. I had four. Four scoops. All of them delish. Jamocha Almond Fudge. World Class Chocolate. Tax Crunch. Maui something-something (it sounded good too). All for $1.29. YAY!
• Bonnaroo trip with Joe made official. There's no backing out now Pipi.
• Registered for Summer classes... missed deadline for Fed loan app. Truly bummed.
• Aunt's birthday. Binge-ate. Ate my feelings because that's what depressed girls do. Or shop. I eat. Indigestion is a bitch.
• Cinco de Mayo. I don't celebrate it. Should've gone to Taco Bell for lunch. I had Tocilog instead.

Well, that's it. I'm sure more things happened... and I'm sure I'll remember them all one of these days. Didn't include important news bits from around the world. World is too crazy now: Daddy is the baby daddy, horsey euthanization and more crazy stuff. My hometown in TV Patrol... again.

Until next time.

Happy Earth Day!

To celebrate this day, let me share a composition from Kirk McGowan --- a real estate developer and cracker extraordinaire. Enjoy!

My Occupation on Earth Day

We build single family homes.

Or maybe I should describe it as - we desecrate nature's beautiful and delicate perfection by gashing and gutting the fruitful and feral earth, ripping flora and fauna from its life source, entombing the ground with a cold, hard impenetrable smashed rock, castrating the virile soil from cradling the untouched seedlings and unsoiled greens. By haphazardly hammering together these boxes composed of tree corpses and unnatural material we oust, we expel, we evict the cute and innocent four legged, two winged, and slimy skinned fellow inhabitants from their protective and pristine homes. Yes, that's right we smash, bash, and shatter; we beat, blow, and pulverize. We demolish, demean, and consume with a rakish smile.

And so we erect these abominations that frivolously shelter garbage bearing, noise supplying, fume yielding, nauseating, repugnant, vile, shameless humans just so these repulsive, gross, foul, vulgar, stinking humans can scrape the landscape by driving their metal contraptions, their vibrating cans of destruction farther and farther from necessity.

But I like to think of what we do is rearrange the chaos in a more organized manner; that's right, we finish the job that god started; basically, what I am saying is we tell mother nature to go back to the kitchen, we're setting the table.

And no, he doesn't buy the whole "global warming" thing... and yes, he used to be a champion swimmer in his glory days. He is Libertarian... which I think explains everything.

Need a paper bag...still hyperventilating

OMFG!!! ---> not trademarked by Gossip Girls yet, so I'm still free to use it. Maybe I should start a new acronym... hmmm, interesting thought.

Anyway, again, OMFG!!! I know I skipped on doing the recap last week and I'll try to work on that, but this one I have to let out before my heart bursts out of my chest (what a pretty picture).

Summary:

Michael and Jan called it quits. Michael was trying to find a new office chair in the supply catalog. He sees something he likes --- the chairmodel! He asked everyone to open their own catalogs and turn to the page where the chairmodel was. He asked everyone to use her as the template... for the ladies they will be setting him up with for dates. Everyone diligently follows, Toby gave an exasperated look. Andy and Kevin are deeply affected by the walk from the satellite parking lot to the office (Andy says 10 mins, Kevin says 30). They arranged for a meeting between the five top dudes from every office in the business park, Michael was so busy with the lady-hunt and entrusted Andy and Kevin to figure things out. Pam sets up Michael with her landlady. It did not turn out well. Jim hinted that Pam might be kicked out of the apartment. They tease each other back and forth about moving in together. Pam said she won't do it unless she is engaged. Jim asked her if he has not proposed yet. She says no. Jocular Jim said it was coming. She asks when. He won't tell, but she has been forewarned. Camera shows the weird, almost terrified look on Pam's face. Dwight takes Michael to the chairmodel's final resting place (oh yeah, Dwight found out she died of an accident). Michael does an impromtu re-working of "American Pie". Andy and Kevin successfully wins the parking lots back. *SQUEE ALERT* Jim and Pam walks toward the satellite parking lot. They were trying to figure out where to go for dinner. Jim suddenly goes down on one knee... Pam has a shocked look on her face... Jim opens his mouth and says, "Hey Pam, will you wait for me one second while I tie my shoe?". MUKYA!!! Pam says she hates him and embarassly walks away. Michael and Dwight jams through dusk.

This is nice, light episode compared to last week's nice but really dark and awkward one. Then again, Michael is not Michael without the awkwardness and we do witness that in the coffee shop scenes with Pam's landlady. This is totally a woman's episode, something of a mini-chick flick, if you will. I am glad I was at my sister's (she has DVR) because I was able to go back and forth, back and forth to the really cute Jam scenes. I think I did that four times.

Some other favorites from this episode:
- Kevin wanting to win so bad (my heart broke a little)
- Michael calling Oscar, "Oscar Mayer, wiener lover"
- Creed wanting Pam's chair so he can have two of the three he wants.
- Creed knowing Pam's name.
- The only time we see Toby on screen and he's shaking his head
- Andy's dance in the parking lot
- The exchange between Jim and Pam on their walk to the parking lot -- very real
- Andy whining about losing a penny in his loafer
- Andy's speech on the working man's need of a good parking spot

I give this episode a B+ for satisfying my Jam cravings!

Let me make this short and sweet...

The Office. Is. Back. Tonight. 9pm. NBC.

How do they promote TV shows in Japan?

Forget US late night talk shows hosted by the likes of Letterman and Conan (OK, even Leno)... how about a chimp? Then how about a chimp named Gomes Chenbalin?

In my ongoing quest to find out as much as I can about the stars of Nodame Cantabile (ok, mostly about Hiroshi Tamaki), I stumbled upon this clip of him promoting Nodame in this talk show hosted by Gomes Chenbalin, a suit-wearing chimp who apparently speaks very good Japanese. I'm talking about a talk show where the guest is challenged by the host to an obstacle course... a freaking obstacle course! Complete with timer and matching track suits for both guest and host. Totes Brill Paxton.

I think Tamaki got robbed, he clocked in at 1m30s while they stopped the clock for Gomes under 1m even if he was still eating his yogurt (?). Then again, who would like to point this out to a chimp who hosts his own show? Yeah, I don't think so.

Gyabo!!!

"Gyabo" is just one of my two new favorite words, the other being "mukya". I don't exactly know what the hell they mean, still they're fun to say. Of course, these words I picked up from watching my new favorite J-dorama, "Nodame Cantabile". As an avid viewer I should know which came first, the anime or the live-action series... but at the same time, as an avid viewer, I could care less since I enjoyed both versions very much.

I finished watching the live action series, plus the two-episode special this weekend. My verdict: LOVED IT! Can't get enough of it! I heart Nodame and Chiaki Senpai! Mukya!!! (sorry, had to throw that in there). The series was so funny, very cartoony, and the music was great. It just made me want to start learning Japanese again (I already have one and a half classes under my belt)... and playing the piano... or not (on the latter).

This show is HIGHLY recommended... to girls 12-17, otaku's, or single ladies who still get a kick out of a good rom-com [like me].

Honey and Clover

It has been a while since I last posted. I have been busy in my spare time traversing* the internets watching my "Honey and Clover". Yes, it is an anime, a [sigh] beautiful anime. Its setting is an art school in Tokyo... the opening credits are very creative and fun, and it weren't only the illustrations that were attractive and well-drawn, the characters and the story affected me the same way. So what if it follows the young-adult drama formula of: close friends+love triangles+struggles in life, it is still WAY better than any Dawson's Creek or One Tree Hill** or Saved By the Bell (oh wait, not that).

Anyway, I'd like to thank for anime-addicted sis for the heads-up on this show, she knows me too well.

*They use this word a lot in the English-subbed versions.

** I have never seen this show. I know a young adult-type melodrama... I just can't come up with this type shows that I actually watched... oh wait, Felicity... but I liked Felicity.

My backpack... my HERO!

I moved out of my sis' place almost a year now, but I still stay with them over the weekends. This means that on Monday nights, after I come home from school, I have to unload bags and bags of stuff from my weekend sleepover. Last night was not an exception... up until the moment I realized that I could have died! Or suffered a head injury... whatever it is, I'll never find out.

To illustrate (in three doodlistic frames):

So with that, I thank my backpack for saving my life OR keeping my head free from any injuries. I loved you at first sight, I will love you more (if that is even possible). Also, thank you Listi for not laughing at me, but then again, you wouldn't have known about my fall if I didn't tell you about it.

Ed's note: Yup, I fell backwards. I made a few steps back because I was clearing some space so I can push my car door with my body. Also, I had more bags on me. The doodles above are just a simple representation of what happened. I also have a face, hair and wear clothes (and glasses).

"Fairplay to those who dream..."

The 80th Academy Awards concluded a couple of hours ago, and in a couple more hours, I will be reading innumerable posts about said awards show: winners, highlights, red carpet reports and such. For me, it was an awesome installment of an otherwise tired annual award ceremony. It was still very Hollywood, yet very refreshing (I don't know, it's probably just me, but the the recent conclusion of the writer's strike made this Oscar's special in a way). There were no American winners for any of the acting awards. Tilda Swinton, a Scot, got the nod for Best Supporting Actress; Javier Bardem, a Spaniard, won Best Actor; Marion Cotillard from France won Best Actress and Irish Daniel Day Lewis, unsurprisingly received the Best Actor trophy. I'm not sure if I'm placing unnecessary significance over this turn of events, but it made the show a lot less Hollywood (I know, I've already said that but hello? Cameron Diaz? Again?! and creepy Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus) and more about the celebration of films, or movies (whatever).

One of the highlights for me (I have two) was another Irish winner, or should I say winners: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, taking home the golden boy for Best Song, Falling Slowly, from the movie Once. I told myself to write something about this movie. It's one of my favorite movies that came out last year (although I only saw it two weeks ago). I like simple things and nothing can be more simple than a story about a guy and girl who met and made good music together. I don't know what else to say... IT'S FUCKING BRILLIANT! (it's an Irish movie, I think it's OK to say this). Here's them performing "Falling Slowly":

And the other highlight for me is Jon Stewart giving an extra minute or two to Marketa to give her speech, as she was abruptly cut-off by the musicians before she could ever say her thanks. I love you Jon Stewart, you've one-upped Stephen Colbert in my book on this special night.

There was really one thing that I skipped as soon as I saw it on TV, it was this guy. I don't know, it's probably just me, but I don't like Jerry Seinfeld... maybe because I never got really into the nothingness of "Seinfeld" (oh, btw, I don't like Jason Alexander and that guy who got heckled... I'm on the fence with that lady who has a rich dad). It might also be that I got sick from all the Bee Movie shorts they showed on NBC. The downside of skipping that was that I never found out who won Best Animated Film, short or full-length (it also doesn't help tuning in late to the show). Oh well, I'm sure I'll find out in a bit.

Ed's note: So, apparently, it wasn't Jon Stewart who decided to bring Marketa back (it was the producer), nevertheless, I still heart him.

Simpsons Alert!

If you're a Simpsons fan. You better check THIS out... or else, um, nothing really, I just really want you to take a look at it. That's all. I just thought it's cool and all. Ktnxby.

My night with Barry...

I wish I could've been more creative with the title, but it's hard to come up with words to explain what happened Friday night. Awesome? Yup. Delightful? Most definitely. I guess I'll just let the pictures do the talking. Oh, and besides the stage view, all the pictures were taken after the event. We were running late (what's new?). Anyway, without further ado:

Glitter animation a must do!

The Venue

My view from the top

Ok, so about the crowd. I think there were five major demo groups (not necessarily exclusive of each other, i.e. they may overlap in traits) in this musical event: 1) Our beloved senior citizens; 2) Baby boomers; 3) Our gay friends; 4) My Filipino brothers and sisters; 5) Kids who were forced to be taken along for the awesome ride because of the lack of babysitters. Also, the plethora of walking aids were obvious, I was glad Mr. Manilow got to lure them out of their usual confinements.

Enjoyed your popcorn much?

I tried to brush by her.

Some ladies in red hats. I think they're part of a mob or something.

The Fanilows

I tried to take pictures of the other demo group I mentioned, but I was not able to do so. And, even if I didn't get to purchase any souvenirs (because I'm broke), I took pictures of these things I will be looking forward to purchasing... 20 years from now:

And the pièce de résistance:

All in all, it was a great evening. I got to sing a long to most of the tunes... got kinda teary-eyed with a couple of them.

Happy Hearts Day!

moar humorous pics

A prayer has been answered, now a dream has come true...

This is turning out to be one of the best days ever. Ever.

Friday. HP Pavilion, San Jose. My countdown to "My Night with Barry" officially starts now.

Watch out!