Photo Experiment: Multiplicity

The first of many experiments with the new toy. Taken at our Pasig home last November 13, 2005. Comments appreciated as always. More photos can be found in my Flickr account.

Patotot

Tagged by Gerwin...

So, I'm supposed to write 20 random facts about me then tag the same amount of people the number of minutes it takes me to write the facts. Game.

1. I was born in Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia.
2. Growing up, I wanted to be a pilot.
3. I haven't drawn anything in over a year.
4. I've studied Karate, Jeet Kune Do, and Wushu but didn't last long enough to master any of them.
5. I consider the July 16, 1990 earthquake the most terrifying day of my life.
6. I contracted typhoid fever when I was in 3rd grade.
7. I have formally courted only three women in my lifetime.
8. I've failed one subject in my history as a student (Linear Algebra).
9. Aside from comics, I also collect toys.
10. I am a proud Mama's boy.
11. Back in 1st grade, my mom caught a "love letter" I wrote for my crush in my backpack.
12. "Sige, mag-asawa ka na! 'Wag ka nang mag-aral! (Go ahead, get married! Don't study anymore!)" are words I remember very well after the incident in number 11.
13. I was so traumatized by number 12, I never talked to my mom again about any of my crushes.
14. My crushes in grade school have always been part of the honor roll.
15. My mom never knew Pi and I were together until way after our 1st month.
16. I have never missed an issue of Ultimate Spider-Man.
17. My four front teeth used to be just two huge ones.
18. I am easily envious of people who can afford the things they want.
19. I'm a pretty good dancer.
20. I'm a virgin.

Tagging Concon, Adrian, Mon, Bryan, Ia, and Pao (I didn't write the facts in six minutes, I just ran out of people to tag).

Breakfast of Champions

Or in my case, the Snack of champions.

This killer combo of a meal has been a regular part of my daily diet for over three months now (I eat a sandwich as my 2nd and 4th meals). Not only has this helped me shed off more pounds (as of my last trip to the scale, I lost another 10), it helps me get through the rest of each day by giving me that extra boost of energy I need (Lily's and Gardenia should pay me). Plus, I am huge, HUGE peanut butter addict. Give me anything with peanut butter and I'll eat it.

That should explain the whole "Happiness is Peanut Butter" status in my YM. :)

Best part about all this is it's helped me save...this 120-peso investment actually lasts me a week.

***

This is also actually my first attempt at food photography using the new toy. The composition's, admittedly, quite pathetic, but I guess I've got to start somewhere.

While I'm on the subject of photography, allow me this shameless plug and say that I've just set up a new account in Flickr.com. It's a pretty cool site for newbie professional shutter bugs alike. I'm still debating whether I should get a pro account or not. It really seems like a good investment though, especially if I plan on making a hobby out of this. I'll probably need a week to think about it. Meantime, feel free to drop by, view, and comment on the few photos I've uploaded.

Stolen!

When you let your girlfriend hold your camera, prepare to (literally) face the consequences. Taken at Tai Hing (our new favorite Chinese place, along Makati Avenue) while "fixing" my face for a couple of shots.

The Look of Love

Back from the Dead

The title couldn't be more apt (I remember one or two of you might have already used said title before, so I hope you don't mind if I swipe it from you just this once). This blog's literally been buried for the better part of two months (last post was on August 8). I was actually quite surprised (and of course, very, very thankful) that the Powers-That-Be at Blogger haven't decommissioned me yet. But the biggest of thanks (and sincerest of apologies) go out to those of you who've stuck (or at least tried to stick) with me throughout the silence, ye regular visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of what might be an honest-to-goodness update.

Truth is I sort of just lost the time, and a little bit of the drive, to write. What with the tons of stuff now occupying my plate at work nowadays and all, I guess it's bound to happen. Yeah, yeah, "same old excuse", I know. But this was actually different from any other time I abandoned this blog. A long time ago, it all just seemed to be automatic. I didn't need a sudden rush of inspiration to write anything that was worth writing. The thoughts just came. But up 'til last most, it all just felt like a chore. I didn't want to feel hassled by it all (which is actually pretty sad when you think of it). Simply put, I lost the momentum. This would have been a whole different story if I could have blogged from my place. That's why blessed are those who have internet access at home, for they shall be able to blog without the hassle.

Anyway, you might be wondering: If I'm so busy, what the heck I'm doing here now? Well, I'm not busy. I, thankfully, have time (and something actually substantial to write about). So I figured, maybe it's about time I got the ball rolling again...start re-building the momentum. What's more, I have a new toy that will definitely help me do just that:

The Nefut's Weapon of Choice. Canon Powershot G3, previously owned by an officemate, in excellent condition, with 256MB CF, two Li-ion batteries, cables, software, etc. P16K, 8 months to pay, 0% interest.

Some Right Brain Exercise...

...to see if I've still got it (more importantly, to get my blog out of the pathetic rut it's in at the moment).

This is...was my entry to ISG Logo Making Contest. First prize wins 500 pesos (enough for a half tank of gas) while the next two best entries win 200 each. Guess who won first prize...not me. Apparently, the judges didn't quite agree with my color scheme (the winning entry used Globe's colors). Anyway, it's all good. No biggie. At least I got the creative gears in my head running for a bit. Comments much appreciated.

And while I'm at it (Plug! Plug!), if you or anyone else you know is interested in having logos designed for their companies, businesses, products, etc., please feel free to drop me a line or contact me via e-mail.

Chingco Day!

Just in case you're wondering, yes, I am in the office today (the curse of the month-end reports).

May you have many, many more to come, bro. I wish you all the happiness in your career, in your marriage, and in your other endeavors today, on your special day, and in the days that follow. We'll be drinking for you tonight.

Here's to your good looks...and sexy body! (Bry should have this line patented already).

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Anybody want to hit G's Spot and make him a very happy boy can go here. (Oh look, I made a pun).

My Favorite Movies Blog

Apparently, I got tagged for this by Mon almost a month ago (June 6 to be exact). Sorry, Mondell. Haven't been frequenting your blog or any of the other peeps' blogs recently ('cept maybe for Jon's, Ger's, and Zane's), but thanks for giving me a reason to update mine.

Total number of films I own on DVD/video...

Everything's on DVD unless specified.

Bootleg (what I remember so far):

1. Spider-Man
2. Equilibrium
3. 2 Fast 2 Furious
4. You Got Served
5. Initial D 3rd Stage
6. Wonderful Days
7. Snatch
8. The Last Samurai
9. Does Smallville (Season 1 to 3) count?

Ante Pirata:

1. Star Wars Trilogy (VCD)
2. Star Wars Episodes 1 and 2 (VCD)
3. The Matrix
4. The Matrix Reloaded
5. Star Wars Trilogy Collector's Edition
6. LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring Extended Version
7. LOTR: The Two Towers Extended Version

The last film I bought...

Star Wars Trilogy Collector's Edition DVD and LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring Extended Version. I got them both at the same time. My officemate had relatives coming over from the States late last year, so I figured I might as well order these two to add to my collection. Cost me an arm and a leg. I have yet to open them though. :)

The last film I watched...

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. A highly entertaining and tremendously funny movie. Zane has a really nice review of it over at her blog.

Films that I watch a lot or mean a lot to me...

• Spider-Man (1 and 2) - Spidey is just my all-time favorite superhero. I'm a huge fan of the comics, so it's no surprise that the movies hold a special place in my heart.
• Batman Begins - Same sentiments as with Spidey. Batman is just way up there in my superheroes list. Like I said, this is how a Batman film should be made. Sure, there may have been moments when Christian Bale's raspy Batman voice got annoying, but I don't think it took away anything from the movie. I still think it was great. More on the film in my previous post.
• The Rocketeer - Somehow I just couldn't outgrow this film. It's just a lot of fun to watch. It sort of has this comicbook feel to it, packed with a lot of action, which is probably why I like it so much. And oh yeah...Jennifer Connelly.
• Gladiator - Russell Crowe is THE man in this movie. In my opinion, his greatest performace yet (truly deserving And "what we do in life echoes in eternity" just did it for me.
• The Matrix - Probably the most revolutionary film of the late 90's. A thinking man's movie, with a whole lot of guns and martial arts. Who wouldn't enjoy that? Excellent story and fantastic cinematography. It's just too bad that the sequels weren't as great as this one.
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Two words: Zhang Ziyi.

To which 5 people am I passing the baton and why?

• Pi - Simply because I watch movies with her. And her thoughts on the films we've watched are very interesting. She's an excellent writer and I know she misses doing reviews, so this will be good exercise for her. But she still has to put up her own blog though.
• Jon Z. - Because I know he'll enjoy writing about this.
• Richard - To take his mind off Google Earth for a while.
• Justin and Adrian - To give them a reason to update their blogs.

Fighting Injustice...Out of Nothin' at All

That's my attempt at a witty title, by the way. And because it's probably not as witty as I thought it would be, I shall explain. What I'm basically trying to say is that "I've had the chance to watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Batman Begins recently, and I'm going to post my thoughts on them". Pilitin daw ba? Anyway...

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

The chemistry between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is just amazing. It's the first thing you'll notice in the movie. For lack of a better description, it's pretty obvious that they reek of sex. They practically have SEX stamped all over them. Other than that, I think they fit their roles perfectly. I couldn't imagine any other actors playing the parts. Pitt is as funny as ever. Pi was right to note that he's mastered the art of still being charming, despite making a complete fool of himself. *Making looove out of nothin' at all (making love)* And Angelina? What's not there to like? I mean, c'mon...the woman is the ultimate guy magnet!

The action is pretty intense and hilarious at the same time (my favorite sequence would definitely have to be the "after dinner" fight, where they still manage to kiss and make up in the end after all the destruction). I like the whole "invincible" treatment they gave John and Jane. I think it was cool. They are, afterall, the world's greatest assasins. The plot is a lot of fun, though quite typical of a summer film. There's the right amount of romance and drama in it too, which are also welcome breaks from all the Kick!Splode! (sorry, Jon) that make up 90% of the movie.

All in all, this film doesn't disappoint. It's what you'd come to expect from a film that supposedly broke up a marriage. Definitely a must have in anyone's DVD collection.

Batman Begins

First things first: Wow, wow, and mega-wow! This film is the shiznit (though I don't exactly know what that means, but it's supposed to be a good thing)! No more bat-skates! And thank goodness, no more bat-nipples! The nipples are finally in their rightful place...on the leading lady! (I got that from Peejay, by the way). Seriously though, the reviews were right...forget what you know about the first four films, this is how a Batman film was meant to be made. Gotham is finally a real city, none of those stupid towering statues with observatories on their backs and roads built on their shoulders. The problems are a lot more human...poverty, corruption, crime, things the audience can relate to. The casting is brilliant, and the acting superb (yes, I even found Katie Holmes superb), though I would've wanted to see more of Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman. And Christian Bale! Christian Bale! Christian Bale! Potah, he was born to play the Dark Knight. He's the perfect Bruce Wayne/Batman. Heck, he is Bruce Wayne/Batman! Christian Bale for President!

Chris Nolan and David Goyer are my latest heroes. The story, cinematography, pacing, action, comedy, drama, everything was excellent. Personally, I think it was great that they tried to be as true as possible to the source material for the sake of the fans, but still added a different touch to educate those not familiar with the legend of the Bat. I loved the Crime Alley scene...it almost made me cry, dammit (even though I knew it was going to happen anyway). That was how well that scene was shot. The image of young Bruce on his knees, crying over his dead parents' bodies...it just sticks to you, sort of makes you feel bad because you couldn't do anything to stop it from happening. Then again, there is no Batman without Crime Alley. But my most favorite part in the film has got to be Bruce's training. It's something that's never really been explored in detail in the comics, so it was a great thing to watch. I especially liked the part where he beats the crap out of six inmates and then shouts "I don't need protection!" when the guards restrain him. I thought that was funny.

Naturally, the Batman scenes were fantastic. Well, it wouldn't be a Batman film if the Batman scenes sucked, now would it? I had my reservations on the costume when word of it first came out, but I'm glad I kept an open mind. The design of the costume makes sense in the movie and is a necessary part for Bruce's transformation into the Dark Knight. Same can be said with his other gadgets. And the car, dammit! What a fine piece of machinery. I have got to get me one of those.

So, we're down to the million dollar question. Is Batman Begins better than Spider-Man in the comics-to-film category? In some areas, maybe, but overall I personally think they're just on the same, great level. Both were excellent depictions of the origins of two of the greatest comicbook heroes of all time, and their stories were told exactly the way they were meant to be told: with a lot of love and respect for the mythologies behind them. At the end of the day, I believe any movie that does that deserves to be at the top of the charts.

If It Were Up To Me...

...I'd do this more often.

That's me, jumping off a big-ass rock into the sea over 20 feet below. I believe I've never had that much adrenalin pumped into my system before. Sooobrang asteeeg! Photo taken from our trip to Tali Beach in Nasugbu, Batangas last May 22, 2005. Courtesy of my officemate Alvir Jugo. More pics to follow.

Good Thing I'm A Nerd...

Just sharing something I got through email recently. It's a nice read. I guess I saw myself in most of the descriptions. I can think of one or two people I know that fit the whole profile though. Enjoy.

Why Geeks And Nerds Are Worth It

In the wide world of dating, there are many options. Do you go for the flashy guy with the smooth smile, or the dude in the corner typing away on his laptop? The following are reasons why I think my fellow females should pay more attention to the quiet geeks and nerds, and less attention to the flashy boys.

1. While geeks and nerds may be awkward, they're well-meaning 9 out of 10 times. That smooth dude with the sly grin and the spider hands? Wonder what HIS intentions are... plus, I've never had a geek guy not call me when he said he would. Score major points THERE.



2. They're useful. In this tech-savvy world, it's great to have a b/f who can make your laptop, desktop, and just about anything else that plugs into a wall behave itself.



3. They’re more romantic than they're given credit for. Ok true, their idea of romance might be to make up a spiffy web-page with all the reasons why they love you, with links to pics of you and sonnets and such...but hey, it lasts longer than flowers, plus you can show your friends.



4. Due to their neglected status, there are plenty to choose from. You like 'em tall and slender? There are plenty of geeks/nerds who are. You like 'em smaller with more meat on their bones? Got that too.



5. They've got brains. Come on now, how can intelligence be a bad thing?



6. Most are quite good at remembering dates. Like birthdates and such, especially if they know it'll make you happy. Due again to their neglected status, they're more attentive than guys who "have more options". Plus, with all that down time without a steady girlfriend, they'll likely have mental lists of all the things they'd love to do once they GOT a girlfriend.



7. Sex. Yep. Sex. I'm not really familiar with this myself, but I've friends who've been intimate with geek guys and it's raves all around. They say a virgin wrote the Kama Sutra... all that time thinking about sex, imagining sex, dreaming about sex, (they are male after all) coupled with a desire to make you happy? Use your imagination.



8. They're relatively low-maintenance. Most can be fueled on pizza, Twinkies and Mt. Dew. No complicated dinners needed here, so if you're not the best cook, eh. Can you order a pizza?



9. Most frequent bars as often as slugs frequent salt mines. You won't have to worry much about your geek guy getting his "groove" on with club hotties because, frankly, he'll be too busy rooting around under his computer wondering where that spare cable went. You won't have to worry about him flirting with other women because, 9 out of 10 times, he'll zip right by them in a perfect b-line towards the nearest electronics store. I've seen this happen.
   
   Me: "Eww. Victoria's Secret Models...they're so skinny. How is that feminine? You can see her ribs!"
   Geek Guy: "Ooooooo..."
   Me: "Hey!" *notices he is staring lustfully towards the computer store*
   Geek Guy: "What?"
   Me: "Never mind..."



10. Although he may not want to go to every outing with you, you can arrange swaps, as in, you'll go to his Gamer Con dressed as an elf princess if he'll take you to the ballet. Plus, if he doesn't want to go someplace with you, you won't have to worry much about what he's up to. You'll probably come home to find him asleep on his keyboard in a sea of Mt. Dew cans with code blinking from the screen. It's ok. He's used to this. Just toss a blanket over him and turn out the light.


11. His friends aren't jerks. I can't stress this enough. You'll more likely get "OMG! A GIRL!! Can I see?!" than "Hey hot stuff back that ass up here and let me get some grub on..." They're awkward geeks too and will, 9 times out of 10, treat you with the utmost respect and, more than likely, a note of awe. A cute girl picked one of their clan to date? It could happen to them! Hope! Drag some of your single girlfriends over, open up a pack of Mt. Dew, crack open the DnD set and get working. Nothing impresses geek guys more than a girl who can hack-n-slash (well ok maybe if she can code... a geek can dream).



12. They're rarely if ever possessive. They trust you, so you can be yourself around them. You like to walk around the house in a ratty t-shirt for comfort? He won't care. He does too! They won't get pissy if you don't wear make-up or don't want to bother primping your hair. If you gain a few pounds, they won’t try their best to make you feel like crap.



13. They're usually very well educated. Physics majors and the like. See #5. You won't have to listen to him blathering on about his car (ok maybe a little), he'll have loads of other interesting things to talk about. Politics, world events, how much the chicken burgers down at the local place rock, so long as you douse them in hot sauce...



14. You'll almost never have to hear, "Yaw dawg whazzap!!!" plop out of their mouths. Unless it's in jest. They spell properly, use correct punctuation, and are able to tell the difference between the toilet and the floor. They almost never get "wasted", so you won't have to worry about coming home to find him and his friends passed out on the floor amidst a pile of beer bottles. Mt. Dew cans, perhaps...



15. And the final reason why geeks and nerds make great boyfriends: They actually give a damn about you. Not how you look (though that's a plus), not how skinny you are, not how much make-up you primp yourself up with, but they like you for you. That kind of thing lasts longer than "Damn baby you got a fine ass!!!" Believe me.

That's What I'm Talkin' About!

You may remember my From Creepy Thin Man to Incredible Bulk post from way back October 2003. This was around the time when I first made the big decision to refine my eating habits and watch my weight. The photo below is "Exhibit B" from the said post. Truth is I still find it pretty disturbing.

Before. 200-pound, hairless monstrosity with boobies, looking stupid in beach shorts. Doesn't send the good kind of shivers down your spine, does it? Anyway, I was hoping to have shed a significant amount of pounds by November 1, 2003 as I originally wrote in the abovementioned post. Unfortunately, the seafood-and-stairs combo wasn't enough. I figured that if I was seriously considering slimming down, I had to include frequent exercise in my routine. I've been regularly going to the gym since June 2004, which most of you already know. I have Pi, Pats, and Zane to thank for that.

The following photo was taken during our trip to Puerto Galera over a week ago. Well, suffice to say there have been big...improvements. *wink*

After. 178-pound, health-conscious yuppie, looking slightly better in board shorts.It's a very rewarding feeling, knowing that your hard work is paying off (I wish I could always say the same about other things though).

It Hurts So Much It's Not Funny Anymore

I hate this.

Anyway, squeezing in this post (while I can) just so you know I'm still alive. In case you didn't notice I've temporarily disabled Haloscan usage here...I recently discovered that they only keep comments from the last 3 months or so, which sucks big time. And since your comments mean a lot to me, I've enabled Blogger's comments feature instead. Still in the process of tweaking the whole thing though so bear with crappy layout.

Check back later. Duty calls.

Oh, Goodie...A Post!

(Squeezing in some blog time while I wait for these reports to finish).

I think I've just set a new blogger record: Most number of days gone without a single post.

47 days, dammit! Now that is bloody depressing. So much for Getting Off On The Right Foot. *Sigh*

I can't believe I've been quiet for the whole of February (which just happens to be my favorite time of the year). I mean, what can you not write about during this month? (Apparently, plenty in my case.) Anyway, a lot's happened in the time between this and my last update (God knows how much I've used that damn line), and I'm really hoping time permits me to talk about all of them in the coming days. I've got a bunch of Photoblogs to cook up so I'll probably start from there.

Thanks (and apologies) are in order to those who still have the patience to regularly check this here blog for updates. I promise, I'll try my very best not to disappoint next time.

Later.

Photoblog - Mheng's Despidida

Some pictures from my former officemate and gym buddy Mheng's despidida at Bacolod Chicken - Robinson's Pioneer last Tuesday, January 11, 2005. He left for London on Wednesday, January 12, 2005. Good luck and more power to you, bro! We'll miss you.

Pics taken with the old, reliable 3200 as usual.

Mheng: Despidida Boy.

Rachel: Vavavoom Favorite Female #1	Trixie: Vavavoom Favorite Female #2
Jesse: The Body, The Frenzy, Modelo Primero!	Rostum: Needs a haircut...and a shower.
Ronnel: Brown clown.	Concon: Shhh...she walks by night.
Veena: Skinhead Lover.	Len: Third Shift Killer.
Ceejay: Shaggy's Girl.	Shaggy: Ceejay's Boy.
Emily: Founder, "Forever Friends of Jesse" fanclub.	Rej: German knockout.
Brixter: Already legal.	Me: Space filler.

Photoblog - Weekend at Jon Z's 2005

Last night marked our return to the Instituto Zuluaga, after about a year of absence, for the much anticipated Weekend at Jon Z's 2005. The "Weekend" was in celebration of Brother Jon's return from Spain, at the same time, a farewell gathering for Brother Gerwin, who flew back to Hong Kong today. As all WEAJZ's would have it, "a good time was had by all".

Some pictures, taken with the trusty 3200.

Jon Z.: Balikbayan.	Zane: Jungle Queen.
Gerwin: Balikbayan Part 2.	Charlie: Furniture supplier.
Bryan: Do not mix with alcohol.	Richard: The Healthy Life Bunny.
Djong: Ex-ka-puso, current ka-pilates.	Ping: Steven Seagal.
Chester: Artist Serenader Extraordinaire.	Tish: Still Tish.
Pi: The Goddess Kurdapya.	Pats: Ms. International.
Mitch: Housemate 1.	Pao: Housemate 2.
Peejay: Mentor.	Maan: Mrs. Mentor.
Koryn: Mommy.	Ivan: Rich Bastard.
Toffer: Super Thesismate of Death.	Me: Nefut.

Welcome, Goldenbhoy!

May the Good Lord have mercy on the blogging world. He he he.

Drop by The Showroom and show him a little love, folks.

Bry, you've been sidebarred. To our good looks...and sexy bodies!

Getting Off On The Right Foot

There's an old superstition about doing (or not doing) certain things during the first day of the year, if (or unless) you intend to do (or not do) those things in for the remainder of the year. I've never believed in that. But maybe I'm a lot more superstitious than I'd like to admit, that's why I'm writing this right now. I want to start the year right, not just with the whole blogging thing (two posts in December is an awfully sad sight, and probably a bad way to end 2004), but with a whole lot of other things.

So here's a little checklist to help plot things out:

1. I will start drawing again. Draw for fun, the way I used to back in highschool and college, and find peace with my style.


2. I will reach my ideal weight. And will not just reach it, I will also maintain it. I will look and feel good in the process.


3. I will do better at work, hone my skills, learn additional supporting skills, and I will feel good about my achievements. I will be patient and take things as they come.


4. I will enjoy life, have fun with my friends and with my loved ones, and smile and laugh more.

Cheers to a fruitful and wonderful 2005!