The Carver's House

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Strange. Right after my birthday comes this inexplicable dip. Some schizo Jekyll-and-Hyde turn.The kind that makes you realize that you're at your worst state, and all the evils tucked within your personality cracks are slowly seeping out. I would like to believe that this is all fatigue-induced, but a part of me doesn't think so. It's been triggered, ironically by an inconsequential event that nevertheless ticked me off. It will pass, for sure, as everything else had. But a conviction has been reinforced. Listening is a gift which, unfortunately, is not shared by all. I guess it's quiet time again.

Just a summary of what's been happening... I didn't do much last Friday, but spent it mostly feeling good. The day was bright and sunny, the kind that wasn't too hot and had a hint of dryness in the air. The morning was spent just bumming over the Web, then lunch took me to Tapa King along Pioneer where I had my usual. I walked to Dome at the Shangri-La mall to have a couple of cups of coffee. I missed being idle or, more accurately, being able to push aside urgent tasks for just one day. I brought a book along with me--one of those assembly-line self-help guides-- just in case my fingers ached for some activity, but found myself unable to go through a page. I just sat there, watching people, my mind mostly blank. The grocery store was next. I had to replenish my fruit supply. Fruits have been a major reason for my dropping by the grocery store, and have been good meal substitutes. I just pop some into a blender, add ice and a fiber and protein supplement, and blend away. T...

I don't know why, but my interest in reading comics has been floundering. It's not like during those bygone years when I'd eagerly anticipate--drooling and all-- the next issue of my favorite comics. I still like making them, but reading them? Well... In an effort to hopefully revive my fading interest, I registered for a one-year subscription to Marvel Digital where, for a relatively small amount, I get to read every comic book in their online archive. The P2,400 tag can only get me less than 20 printed comics at current prices, and I've already read more than that online in less than three months. In short, bawing-bawi na ako . But I'm still not solved as far as the whole comics-reading experience is concerned. There are those who may scoff at reading comics online, and I admit I was one of them. But times have changed as much as needs, and I've pretty much adapted to getting reading entertainment through the Web. Sometimes I wonder if it's the smell or t...

Just a public service announcement. :-) Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) , an association of artists committed to the creation and promotion of illustrations for children, is accepting new members for 2008. REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION 1. Accomplished Membership Application Form. 2. Three (3) illustrations that are of the same size and medium based on the 2008 PBBY-Salanga Prize-winning story, "Naku, Nakuu,Nakuuu!" by Ernanie Rafael, available for download at: http://pbby.org.ph/downloads/pbby_naku-nakuu-nakuuu.pdf Recommended size and format: At least 8 1/2 x 11, landscape format ** Please DO NOT submit original artworks. All papers, works, and packaging submitted to Ang INK for screening will not be returned to any applicant. SUBMISSION Entries must be submitted on or before February 16, 2008, Saturday, 12:00 noon. All entries received after the deadline will not be entertained. Please send your entries to: Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) Room 307 Ang Bahay n...

Listening to: Numb/Encore, Linkin Park and Jay-Z Arrggh... I am swamped (mostly my fault). Sorry for not posting lately. 2008 kicked off pretty well for me with heavy stuff on the plate. If this is any indication of how the rest of the year is going to be, I guess that only bigger and better will come my way. Let it be so. But then it's all going to take place in a smoother fashion with the right mindset. I was talking with a co-worker yesterday and it looked like the kind of lives we led were similar. We had that safe, tentative disposition, thinking out of the box but not really stepping out of it. Though, in my case, I have stepped out a few times over the past couple of years with every good and challenging encounter. A few foibles now and then, but not bad overall. I relearned a valuable lesson from El and Jonas on separate occasions. I have to, again, put a rein on announcing anything that's not nearly done. It's that whole udlot thing, which has put me to shame ...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say. Then there's that oft-mentioned "rule" that beauty can be seen in the mirror likeness of the left and right sides of the face. Then there's beauty based on the Golden Ratio, the number that's theoretically the cornerstone of every natural creation. For those who aren't aware of the Golden Ratio (represented by the greek letter phi), which is based on the Fibonacci series, you can get a primer through Evolution of Truth . A feature on the website Interactive Mathematics presents a pattern for a face that conforms to the Golden Ratio. The site even has a little interactive test where you can match this mask with the faces of Jessica Simpson, Tom Cruise, and Jessica Alba. As expected, my face doesn't match this mask. But since I'm the kind of person who likes to experiment on myself, I decided to give my picture a whirl and Photoshop my way into Golden Ratio attractiveness. The results are, well... ... para...