H-J-McQ

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

2008-10-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

No, it's not the time yet. God is not dead yet, and supermen have not yet ruled the earth. But this is an overdue post that came up right after our group meeting on Pre-Biotic Chemistry II. For the unenlightened, scientists- in this context, chemists- have always been interested in figuring out the origins of life, the possibility of design, why the world is made this way and not that way and so on. The findings reported so far have hinted on the possibility of self-replicating and self-amplifying world, ie. peptides replicating themselves through a 'template' or achiral materials getting enantioenriched over time (Curiously, a large portion of the people involved in this area of chemistry work in the vicinity of San Diego, such as Joyce, Ghadiri or Eschenmoser). One could imagine that if such processes would go on for a very long period of time, a world such as what we have is not entirely impossible- the accuracy of the time frame might be debatable, but that's another story-, all it needs is just the 'templates' to be there. This could easily be a springboard for a plethora of other questions: Does the choice of the base pairings found in our DNA: adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine arise arbitrarily or by necessity? Is everything that we have on the molecular level right now: our DNA, RNA, amino acids (Why those 20?) the so-called thermodynamic minimum so that life couldn't have existed otherwise? Ultimately, we are led to the design vs evolution argument; do we actually need to invoke the involvement of a pair of 'invisible hands' or do all these things happen through evolution, through survival of the fittest? That nature picks what we have in the world right now through some kind of sublation?
Sartre once said, "Men are condemned to be free." One day, perhaps, we will be able to confidently say, "Nature is condemned to be free."

Helmut Lang A/W 08

2008-09-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

I'm in love! With my latest addition of a pair of J Brand low-rise 14" Cigarette Legs, my wardrobe has to expand so I can create new outfits. Not that I have nothing to match really.. But didn't we learn the very first concept in Economics - unlimited wants? Besides, I need to do my part to boost the terribly declining retail sector! Excuses..

Every piece of Helmut Lang I have come across so far, I love. Simple designs with clean cut lines in basic colors but with an attitude. Took me a lot of courage to wear my first piece - long-sleeved side zipper drapey collared black cotton jacket - but I simply love it today. Now that Fall has officially arrived, this awesome piece saves my day. Since the design is so simple, yet carries a 'tude, it goes with practically anything and there is no need to accessorize! You just have to be in the mood.

Counting the days to Oct 10, I am keeping my eyes peeled for these two cardigans. I honestly prefer to striped one better. There is a snap button right at the waist on the left-side of the cardigan, which converts it into a dress. Two outfits in one. Simply fantabulous! In the day it can be worn as a cardigan, and at night, a dress with a simple pair of tall boots! I can't wait..

When 9 Pins Fall But 1..

2008-09-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

As much as I consider myself as being detached from the bowling scene back in Singapore, I nonetheless still care about the people who played an integral in my bowling days. It was after all the environment I grew up in. One of the most respected people I know in bowling is my dearest coach, Uncle AK.

In a recent article, The New Paper wrote about his derogatory disciplinary methods, and attempted to link his stepping down as head coach to it. After reading the article, it suddenly hit me that I am still not over bowling totally. I recall the days Uncle AK would call me "big backside" with a straight face. I learnt to be a better bowler so that people remember me for my bowling, and not my physical traits. After all, he said it to stir up that drive within me, and he was being sarcastic. I never got sarcasm back then, and I still don't fare well in that respect now haha.

With the sports school's rapid expansion, and more young children recruited into the sport, more parents get themselves unnecessarily involved with the sport. Some things simply never change - parents having so much to comment about, thinking that they are always right in knowing what is best for their children. What they do not realize is that while this is a competitive sport, their children are still growing up. Playing a sport should be fun. Yes, it should not just be fun such that one lacks dedication, but it definitely should not seem like it is one's career and that one's future depended on how well one performs then.

Generation after generation, it seems as though every year, the batch of children get more and more pampered. Not to mention, parents themselves seem to have become more protective over their children's "welfare". I recall the Sundays I would start training with my peers at the bowling alley, by sliding around in a circle and swinging our bowling arm. Then we would start with balancing on one foot at the foul line and rolling our balls, followed by starting a slide away, then a step and a slide.... until we reached the normal starting position. Drills. Tough as they may be, they serve a good purpose. They help create some kind of muscle memory so that one's body can perform the drill instinctively. They also help in disciplining the bowler to keep practicing to improve one's technique. I used to have to carry a 13 lb bowling ball on my left arm, and bowl with another 13 lb ball with my right. I even had to wear a wrist weight and ankle weight back then! Sounds ridiculous? It was the only way to help me train to maintain a good balance and increase my arm power!

All I had to say to dear Uncle AK is that he doesn't have to care about what other people think. His students remember him for his great training and disciplining skills, and we are all thankful for having nurtured us to become good athletes and disciplined people. His teaching methods go a long way, and do not only apply to the sport itself. Most of all, he'll always have our support and will always be close to our hearts.

Ecce Homo

2008-09-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

Yup, behold the man: Gian Lorenzo Bernini, my all-time favorite sculptor. We had a lab excursion to the Getty today, and I was especially excited because I would get to see a special exhibition of Bernini's baroque portrait sculptures (I will blog on baroque some other time, because I need time to formulate what I want to say). True enough, the marble sculptures do not disappoint, most of them replete with Bernini's characteristic attention to details and realism which make them more fluid as opposed to cold, expressionless facade. This, to me, is best epitomized by Bernini's Ecstasy of St. Theresa- Notice the almost orgasmic expression on St. Theresa's face (Yes, I know it's kind of wrong to use the word orgasmic on a divine figure, but I feel like this is the closest English word I can find to convey the message)

And here's another example of unparalleled realism of Bernini's work, found in the Rape of Proserpina- notice the marks that were left on the flesh by the hand as it presses on? Indeed, as a friend of mine once said, "God is in the details"

In any case, I bought and really recommend this book on Bernini by Rudolf Wittkower as it contains a pretty good pictorial summary of his works :)

Bloomingdales on Pre-Sale!!!

2008-09-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Go shop shop shop!

Fruits Of My Road Trip With Grigori

2008-09-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

Going on road trips on impulse is definitely the way to go. On Friday night when everyone else was drunk, Greg and I decided that it will be great to run away from State College to VA (4 hours away). I whooped out my weekender, and stuffed it with 2 day outfits, underwear, makeup, matching shoes, toiletries, phone charger. I had to tote my black Coach since it was the easiest match :) And in 30 mins *VROOOM VROOOM* we were on the road.

Arrived at 6AM, and was desperately looking for a place to stay. Ended up at Econolodge. Woke up at 10AM and we were ready to go shopping! Had dimsum at 7 corners for lunch :) Then headed to Tysons!

Mind you, I didn't have my credit card with me, and this is everything I bought. I bought everything on discount and I'm so pleased with myself haha. Bought the Stuart Weitzman at 60% off, Kenneth Cole at 20% off, and not too sure about the rest.

Hope baby Lucia loves her new outfit!

The Grotesque Burlesque Drag

2008-09-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the black theme, here's a short video feature of Shaun Leane from Style.com. His words pretty much sum it up: Traditional craftsmanship look and feel with a macabre twist.

Moving along the macabre line, here are some jewellers with similar aesthetics: Werkstatt:Muenchen, Stephen Webster and Ugo Cacciatori

Best Salsa EVER!

2008-09-18T21:46:00.001-07:00

When under stress, binge eating tends to reveal itself. Disgusting, I know. Well, at least I try to binge on "healthier" alternatives!

Try this at home. Instead of use cake mix with eggs and oil, replace the additions with just zero-calorie-soda. If you are using white cake mix, please use Sprite or Sierra Mist. I don't even dare imagine the color if one were to use Coke! The cake will taste as good, maybe a little more crumbly, BUT imagine how many less calories there are now :)

Also, one of my favorite snacks is having Tostitos' Natural Blue Corn with Desert Pepper's Peach Mango Salsa!! The salsa is fat-free (but I guess with the amount I eat, it doesn't make a difference).

Go Away White

2008-09-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

This NY Times article really caught my eyes today for obvious reasons :)

A select few memorable phrases from the article:

"We were all young and poor: If your clothes were all black, everything matched and was vaguely elegant (especially if you squinted). Entropy was a thrifty, built-in style; if your tights ripped into cobwebs, that, too, was a look."

"Looking back at my own experience, it seems that black clothes were a response to certain catastrophic influences that came up with terrible regularity. We had all lost, or were in the process of losing, friends to AIDS, addictions and accidents. There were always disappointments in romance, and no surplus of mental health or functional families. Boots, black and leather provided a certain group with a certain emotional exoskeleton, a blustering attempt to express an edgy, careless willingness to hurl ourselves into oblivion. But the writing on the collective black flag, for all our reckless posturing, may have been best articulated as: 'Ow, I’m hypersensitive. Please don’t hurt me again.'"

The last point is definitely interesting, as it argues about the correlation between black clothes and the various devastations that define one's life and the symbolic meaning of black clothes.

Now compare that to these words from Karlo (of Atelier, of course):
"What I do is deeply personal. I am lucky that a lot of people connect with it. I am really attracted to cities. When I think of cities, I see concrete and graphite, gray, black and white. I never picture myself in a bucolic countryside. I am not against these environments, but whenever I picture myself, it's urban - there are certain vibrations, textures and feelings that come with that, and that is expressed through the brands I am attracted to. I do not see myself
particularly as gothic, although there is a lot of black and distressed clothing in the store. I am kind of romantic, but in a sense that things do not always end well, not in a pastoral sense."

It is interesting how Karlo views black clothes not necessarily as a reflection of gothic doom and gloom, but more of a romanticisim and urbanity....

Speaking of the article, I'd be curious to get that Valerie Steele's book "Gothic : Dark Glamour" :D

Navigate Navigate

2008-09-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

Helping Jamie write her Rock & Roll paper got me reminded of Dior Homme FW 2007 show, especially because of the use of These New Puritans' song "Navigate".

I especially will always remember how close I came to buying those sarouel pants when I first saw them at Barney's, yup the ones with low-hanging crotch and super skinny legs :) Fortunately (Or unfortunately?) I didn't end up buying them on impulse, and on my next visit, they were nowhere to be seen... Oh well.

My Favorite 7 Year Old :)

2008-09-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

There is something about the British accent that I find ever so kinky, sexy. Sometimes I wish I had chosen to study in England instead of America, that way I'd have acquired their accent instead of the American's.

On rainy days, I naturally adjust myself to become a couch potato. Not to mention a football Saturday :) AND my beautiful apartment, that I have all to myself this weekend since the girls are all at Syracuse at our first away game (which we totally dominated by the way)! I am still debating whether I made the right choice to stay home alone. But no matter where I am, I never fail to scream at the top of my lungs, every time we score a first down :)

Ok before I get way off track, CONNIE TALBOT!!! I love this little girl. The British girl who performed on Britain's Got Talent, who puts Whitney Houston to shame, and who has sold more than 15,000 records to date. When I first watched this, I teared. She was THAT "fantastic", as Simon put it. She inspires me into thinking that everything and anything is possible. And most of all, she makes me *smile*

Seafood Pasta Recipe

2008-09-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to introduce to you, Jamie's White-Wine-Garlic-Basil-Seafood-Pasta! Whoo isn't that quite the name. After Jon has asked me to cook the pasta for the second time since we've been back at school for at most three weeks, I figured that it must be of a certain standard :) So as usual, I'm here to share the good stuff.

Ingredients: Finely chopped garlic, Dried Basil, Garlic Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Wine, Crushed Red Peppers, Normal Pasta (it doesn't taste as good with wheat or multi-grain pasta), Scallops, Shrimp.

Steps:

1. Set the water to boil, for the pasta.

2. While preparing the water, heat up the wok (one that will fit all the ingredients), and add garlic.

3. When the garlic starts turning brown, turn the heat down and add the oil and white wine. Turning the heat down will prevent the garlic from splattering. After adding the white wine, crank up the heat to the max to concentrate the white wine for more taste.

4. When the water is boiling, add the pasta and some salt.

5. Add basil and the crushed red peppers to the bubbling oil mixture.

6. When the pasta is about a minute away from al dente, add the scallops and shrimp.

7. When the pasta is finally done, drain it and add it to the seafood mix.

8. Add a little more white wine and olive oil if you think the pasta is still blend after tasting, and add a lot of basil. Also add some garlic salt :)

9. Basically keep tossing the pasta and ingredients till you find the right taste you want.

I personally like the taste of basil so I add a lot. Crushed red peppers is great for me too, as it give the pasta some kick. Remember to add each ingredient slowly, and keep tasting till you like the final outcome! Have fun cooking!

Making Jokes and Wearing Black and Speaking English Just Like Me...

2008-09-12T22:36:00.001-07:00

Lately, I've been listening to Jazz Butcher's "Angels" a lot, although I couldn't quite put my fingers on what actually made me grow so attached to it. Maybe it's the carefree insouciance that it imbues me with, maybe it's in the way it starts off with "Tomorrow's just another distance" and ends with that wishful plead of "I wanna hold you in my arms" that would make me long for you more than ever. Or maybe, it's something as simple as the multiple use of the phrase "wearing black" (5 times). Or that Jazz Butcher would quickly associate with Diet Butcher Slim Skin in my mind. Or, the combination of all the above.

Anyhow, I actually found my fascination with music from the 80's rather... fascinating, for lack of a better word. It is as if I am flitting through my own version of an arbitrage moment, by tuning out the present to derive pleasure from taking a glimpse into the world two decades before me, pleasure from transporting myself to a place that strangely seems romantic , idealized yet at the same time almost mythical and mystical, a place that would forever exist in the realm of the imagined and never of the inhabited in my mind and by being so, always pliable to the mold of my imagination, forever conforming to what I wish it could be, something that the here and now does not offer me most of the time.

Whatever You Like

2008-09-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

"Stacks on deck, Patron on ice, We could pop bottles all night.."

After listening to Harv play this song on repeat for 43 times straight in a night, I finally master the chorus. Popping bottles all night reminds me of how we now have a new tradition for game day! Every Saturday before hiking the hills of University Drive, we will pop a bottle of champagne so the walk seems much more delightful! Speaking of which, I'm craving some peach mimosas right now..

"Champagne is such a morning drink" - Harv

This video is rather depressing as the girl finally wakes up from her daydream..

Serena Totes Purple :)

2008-09-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

After watching "Never Been Marcused", I couldn't get my mind of this wonderful purple bag that Serena was toting! Anyhow, I managed to google it while in class today :) Here is the Valentino Patent Histoire Bag!! Love the patent leather, not to mention the braided handles! Sweetness...

While googling for this Valentino, I chanced upon another purple bag (Purple is in this Fall!!) - by Bryna Nicole. Something tells me that the Bryna Nicole will appeal to me more when I see the bags in person in just about 4 weeks!

Can't wait to go to NYC!! The countdown starts RIGHT NOW...

The Hole In The Lid

2008-09-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

Last night, I suddenly got so homesick from seeing Jonathan's recent pictures from Grandpa Teo's birthday dinner. I still can't believe I had no idea it was happening till it was over.

Anyhow, tears dried up the moment my mom told me another of her silly instances. I love Mom for being ever-so-silly - it's really hilarious.

See that cup to the right? Notice the lid? Mom had to buy Dad a hot coffee, which isn't something she does often. Having bought the coffee, she had this crazy idea that a straw was necessary, thinking that the hole in the lid was for the straw haha. But since the hole is a little too small, she had to settle for the other skinnier straw - the STIRRER. It's a no wonder Dad, who didn't bother taking a second look, could not sip any coffee at all. Not to mention.. Why the need for a straw in the first place?!

Gossip Girl!!!!

2008-09-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

YAY!!! Gossip Girl is finally back with a bang! *kapowpow!!*

For those of you who don't already know about GG, this is one of the most fashionable TV series you'll ever find. Situated in upper east side NYC, it is awesome to observe what they wear and where they go. Not to mention, the drama that comes with teenage life in a big city. I still can't believe that the crew were playing characters in their junior year of high school, but well, the summer's over and they're about to start their senior year! Let's get excited to see hell break loose as this bunch of high school seniors "make the most out of (their high school days)" as Blair Waldorf puts it .. :)

Here are some of my favorite outfits from the first episode of this season. Be sure to look out for more!

As Kanye Said, Go Ape Sht, Specially in My Pastel and My Bape Sht

2008-08-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

I spotted this candid shot of John Mayer in baeyyypee (BAPE) hoodie (ugh, ugly) and ACR bag. Can't tell the model though, 3A-1? 3A-3TS? 3A-5TS?

Speaking of ACR, let's take a minute to gag over the following video. Yes, this is the video that made me fall in love with my E-J1A and 3A-5TS. Of course, there's also the cashmere/gore/wool GT-J7 hardshell , but that's a story for another day....

One of the Reasons Why I Miss NYC

2008-08-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

Drool....

RICK OWENS

250 HUDSON STREET/DOMINICK STREET

NEW YORK, NY 10013

T. 212.627.7222

F. 212.627.7233

store@rickowensny.com

STORE HOURS:

MON-FRI 11-7

SAT 12-7

SUN 12-6

For a full article on NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/fashion/14CRITIC.html

From Beijing, With Style (or Lack Thereof)

2008-08-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Now that the 2008 Olympics has kicked off, let's have a look at some photos from the opening ceremony....

Mark Foster looks extremely hot as the Great Britain flagbearer with a dark navy polo underneath the white blazer (Edit : Not so hot after all after looking at the shoes he was wearing. He was wearing FREAKIN' VANS SLIP-ONS!!!! What on earth...)

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what the Italians were wearing for the opening ceremony. Cargo pants paired with a blazer is bad enough, but they (or at least the flagbearer on the picture) compound it further with a pair of RUNNING SHOES!? *Scream "God!!" a la Napoleon Dynamite*

Now that is hot. Federer in off-white polo and red shorts. Reminds me of this past spring McQueen collection :P

Kirilenko looks like he just auditioned for the Joker role in Batman 3....

Priceless....

Skinny pants! Yay!!! Good job France!

Kobe looks pretty dapper...

Chopin Potato Vodka

2008-08-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

As how my American friends call it "Sho-pin", I must insist it's meant to be "Sho-Pahn". Well this is one of the best vodkas I've tasted, of course apart from your Belvedere and Grey Goose. Check out their website! They have quite a few slick cocktail recipes I can't wait to try. LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of mixing vodka with champagne :) My favorite drink is a shot of vodka, with a shot of Chambord, only to top it all up with Champagne. Korbel will do the job here, no need to spend $$$ on Moet or Veuve. Ooh and the best part, top it up with blueberries! The berries taste soooo good after being soaked in the drink - leave them for the absolute last!

Problem: does anyone know how to keep champagne overnight without it going flat? Advise!!

Foodaholic in NYC!

2008-08-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Finally got to step foot on NY soil once again! But because I was so cash-strapped, most of my dollars went to filling my tummy instead of shopping :) Besides, while I can get pretty stuff online at State College, it's pretty impossible to get any good food here.
YAKITORI TORYS: sister restaurant of YAKITORI TOTTO - great japanese cuisine. we ate A LOT and spent $65/pax. the grilled squid was my fav - reminded me of my trip to hokkaido! other must try's are tsukune with tare sauce (meatball), harami (skirt steak) was so well-marinated and succulent, homemade liver paste was smooth and a little sweet which went well with the garlic bread, and ocha zuke (rice in hot broth which comes in a little teacup) was interesting as it was like making my own porridge! Among this pair of sister restaurants there's ABURIYA KINNOSUKE and SOBA TOTTO too!
KEE'S CHOCOLATES: really small hand-made chocolate house with their little factory right next door! the lady boss was really friendly :) the creme brulee is a MUST! the lemon basil was real refreshing too! and the rose macaroon with lychee.. not overpoweringly sweet, yet the rose fragrance fills your mouth to your brains!
AURORA: chanced upon this right at soho. this really handsome and suave gentlemen greeted us when we entered - couold be bossman! ambience was cozy (they dimmed the lights so much when we left the eatery i felt like i came out of a cave!) the la tagliatelle was simply scrumptious! the rabbit ragu was so tender and black olive flavored pasta was delish! ordered a mojito there but it was too strong, couldn't taste a thing but the alcohol
ALICE'S TEACUP: great scones! blackberry with chocolate chip is the way to go :)
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN: always a great place to play catch up with your gf's. ordered the bread basket, and trust me, it's meant for 3-4 ppl. shared it with val alone and i doubt i'll have bread again for a longgg time. loved the hummus (chickpeas) and baba ganoush (eggplant) dip! now, the mint lemonade there is simply heaven after walking under the blistering sun for a few hours!
CAFFE FALAI: modern princessy feel - practically all white with cute chandeliers. my experience there wasn't too good, but i would give it another try, as i would love to try their oven-baked eggs! risotto was bad, terribly undercooked. love their mozzarella barrata panini, the bread was grilled well and not greasy and the vegetables were greatly sauteed.
FOLLOW ME CAFE: a real cozy (on the brink of tight) place to go to for lunch on a rainy day with friends or your loved one. food is more lunch than dinner. interesting savory crepes include skirt steak with caramelized onions, moroccan chicken, and portobello mushroom. i had the skirt steak crepe, it was good but not great. the steak wasn't all that well-marinated and it was a teeny bit tough. service wasn't good - grumpy waitress - but maybe she was just having a bad day..
THE MAZE: pure disappointment from Gordon Ramsay. for the same price, you could get a a prix fixe menu at JEAN GEORGES which was much much better. i ordered the hand dived sea scallops but it was too salty. the texture was great, but too much salt. not to mention the cauliflower beignets that tasted of nothing but SALT! the branzino (italian sea bass) was good, but not great. thought that the tomato and olive fondue was ordinary, though the branzino was well-prepared. the lemon quark cheesecake was to highlight of my lunch! it simply melted in my mouth.. and i'll never turn down dessert with pistachio ice-cream :)

Monster Way(ne)

2008-08-01T23:05:00.001-07:00

So we all probably know that Bob Burnquist took the Skate Big Air gold in X-Games 2008 last night. But who can deny that Danny Way is a pure freak monster? The man slammed his shins onto the lip of the ramp during his 25-feet bail, landed on his back, got up and within 10 minutes, repeated the same combo for the silver. Now mind you, all these were done with a broken foot due to the first bail. I think this could easily beat MJ's famous flu game years ago.

Here's a clip of the whole thing off youtube.

While we're on the topic of Danny Way, do check the DC Mega Ramp footage, and the Great Wall of China jump footage

"Green" Accessories For The Summer!

2008-07-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

If you're all about eco-shopping and like to carry items that you won't see the rest of the world toting around, you'll like A.B. Sutton! My friend Greg chanced upon this when he was shopping for a case to protect his prospective iPhone 3G :) Yes, he finally is sold to Apple! All thanks to the free pandora application.

A.B. Sutton's products are hand-made, so think of it as couture clothes for your beloved accessories! Beautiful simple embroidery here sweetens the bright colored leather with such a graceful touch.

Why So Serious?

2008-07-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some random, pseudo-intellectual post-mortems on The Dark Knight, specifically directed to the most talked-about character in the movie, that is the Joker. Note that this is not so much a criticism of Heath Ledger's performance, which in any case is almost flawless, than an analysis of the nature of Joker himself, as is confined by the plot.

Firstly, I have to admit Joker wasn't quite the character that I had expected him to be. When I first saw his costume, I was reminded of Ann Demeulemeester's aesthetics, which naturally led me to want to believe Joker as a poetic, romantic idealist, who somehow turned into a criminal when his ideals were shattered into pieces. It's as if Don Quixote started slitting Sancho Panza's throat and burning down his village at the end of his adventure. But Joker was nowhere near that expectation. I had expected a complex personality, what with delicate veils of emotions behind that goth-ed-out facade. Yet, Joker is just like the character he was modelled after, Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, ie. what you would expect from the hardcore punk genre: anarchic, abhorrent of the rules and the norms of the society, destruction for its own sake, or as Johnny Rotten himself belted out "Don't know what I want but I know how to get it, I wanna destroy the passerby". Watching Joker was like listening to Black Flag's three agressive minutes of one power chord and nothing else. We did get a glimpse of how this maniacal character came about, apparently from a disturbed childhood spent in a malfunctioning family. Yet, if the director had subtly filled us in with how this led to his evolution, I would have better appreciated him.

I can however appreciate Two-Face better as a (tragic?) criminal. I see him as an idealist, a visionary to some extent who eventually saw his world crumble because the very system that he believed in had failed him (or at least he believed so). He was to some extent the embodiment of what I had expected Joker to be. Having said that, I did not believe that his society was entirely culpable in turning him into a criminal. He shared the blame too, as we could probably see from his last encounter with Batman. Two-Face could have been the Batman's version of the Achillean tragic hero save for his myopia and for his failure to overcome his emotions post-Rachel's death.

The Theme Song For Emily The Strange

2008-07-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

This week's free song from iTunes is by Kerli, called Walking on Air. The immediate thought that came to mind was Emily the Strange. I think this should be the theme song going in the background, the next time there's a book signing session.

Eleven Minutes...

2008-07-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is another of Paulo's many captivating books. So much so that when I was in VA visiting Harvey, and was out shopping at Tyson's Corner, I had to go to the nearest Barnes and Noble to finish reading the book (I left my copy at her house). Here are some of my favorite excerpts from the book!

It started out with...
"Once upon a time, there was a prostitute called Maria. Wait a minute. 'Once upon a time' is how all the best children's stories begin and 'prostitute' is word for adults. How can I start a book with this apparent contradiction? But since, at every moment of our lives, we all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss, let's keep that beginning."

How he came up with the title...
"Now come on, Maria, you're exaggerating. It's really only forty-five minutes, and if you allow time for taking off clothes, making some phoney gesture of affection, having a bit of banal conversation and getting dressed again, the amount of time spent actually having sex is about eleven minutes."

I thought this was the most romantic...
"Do you want me as a professional?"
"I want you however you want to be wanted."

Just bought "Brida" today. Thought it was a new book, but silly me, it was written in 1990!

Owning Part Of A Maserati

2008-07-21T16:52:00.001-07:00

Now that Hans has bought my MacBook Pro, I had to find a way to protect the new baby. Wanted something red at first, but to spend $99? Definitely classy, but thought of maintaining that "premium leather"... Nayy..

So I finally found my love! The Alcantara sleeve by WRAPPERS. Alcantara is used to cover the seats of Maseratis, interiors of Porsches. There, the material signifies QUALITY :)

If you love your Mac, pamper it.

The Golden Touch

2008-07-14T23:03:00.000-07:00

I used to think that gold is only for mature people, but recently, I've found it particularly attractive. Maybe because it's summertime, and gold does give a cheerful touch to an otherwise plain outfit.

To the left is Margiela's implied cork necklace, which already is on my wish list. And to the right is a hinge jewels square pendant necklace by Marc Jacobs.

While gold is in now, let's not forget that Fall is creeping back! Currently have my eyes on this paved disc necklace by Kenneth Jay Lane..

August Rush

2008-07-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen such an awesome movie inspired by such great music for a long time. Those of you who love symphonies and orchestras, this is beautiful. The music was so touching it brought tears to my eyes!

Rent the movie from netflix, buy it from amazon, or even iTunes. Just get your hands on it. I just got the soundtrack "August's Rhapsody" - 2 minutes after watching it. That's how much i LOVE it :)

My Favorite Things : Rock Bands

2008-07-12T10:25:00.001-07:00

Here are the rock bands that are heavily in rotation on my playlist right now... And I don't foresee it to change anytime soon.

1. Closer - Joy Division
I have always been intrigued by Ian Curtis' life/tragic (but necessary?) death. Closer definitely offers us glimpses -to say the least- of the things that Ian went through prior to his suicide. The songs "The Eternal" and "Decades" are probably the most depressing -cathartic nevertheless- songs I've ever heard, especially the latter. Listen to it, and follow along Ian's beautifully dark, haunting depressive laments like "We knocked on the doors of hell's darker chamber, pushed to the limit, we dragged ourselves in".

2. Pornography - The Cure
Probably the gloomiest and the most controversial album The Cure ever released, with lyrics like "It doesn't matter if we all die" shove us into the abysmal depth of fatalism.

3. Self Titled - APTBS
Total Sonic Annihilation. The Loudest Band in New York. Exaggeration? I fear not. To me, they are the second coming of Jesus and Mary Chains (pun intended). Brace yourself for an onslaught of sonic mayhem that will guarantee to tear your ear drums. Note : Play it LOUD.

4. Passover - The Black Angels
I stumbled upon this album while hanging out with SAS guys who are attending NYU. They were smoking weed and I just thought that this album is the perfect accompaniment for any getting high ocassions. Lots of psychedelic drones that will take you along feverish trips to the strange world of theirs, what with heavy reminiscence of the Vietnamese Wars. Best enjoyed with a pint of cold beer.

5. Strange House - The Horrors
What's not to like from delicious, skinny boys with big hair, mascara and tight jeans? They wear Dior Homme and HG too.

My Favorite Things : Books

2008-07-12T03:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite books up to date; if you're wondering why most of them are pretty heavy read, blame it on Columbia.
1. Communist Manifesto - Marx & Engels

Marx was indeed one of the smartest thinkers of his time, in my opinion. It is rather unfortunate that back home, people regard Communism as essentially detrimental, that they virtually shun this book.

2. The Antichrist - Nietzsche
The book that started it all for me. The hatred that is.... And of course, the pandora box of the ubermensch philosophy

3. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Wilde

I have to admit that I didn't like this book on my first read. However, I've slowly come to appreciate and been able to relate to this book more, what with the obssession of beauty and satisfaction of human senses, coupled with a tinge of morbidity.

4. Discipline and Punish
The best book I've ever read regarding the relationship of power. And don't forget about Bentham's panopticon.

5. Touching From A Distance - Deborah Curtis

05/18/80. Love will tear us apart.

Honorable mentions : The Blind Owl by Hedayat (200 pages with only 4 full stops, anyone?), Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky

Buckets On My Head

2008-07-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

Do you think these the John Galliano design on the left was somewhat inspired by the 1957 Balenciaga outfit below?? I know this is dated, but I was just browsing through The Golden Age of Couture (my best purchase from the V&A museum!)and came across this picture, and it set my mind wandering..

Little Boots >.<

2008-07-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

Little boots! She definitely got me back into UK pop. It's probably just the cute accent. Excuse my language, but when singing her version of the funtimes cover "Heartbreaker", she made "f***ing jerk" sound like "fork in joke" :) so cute.

Little boots recently released her new single "Meddle"! Not sure if she's that new in the music industry, but it seems impossible to get hold of her music other than through youtube.

Anyway, click on the unicorn to download her free Little Boots Tropical Mixtape!!

Rick Owens @ Honeyee

2008-06-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

There apparently is a Rick Owens feature over at honeyee.com....

Peeping Rick

2008-06-27T23:05:00.001-07:00

Some pictures of Rick Owen's house/apartment from the book "New Paris Interiors":

Women's Fall Preview

2008-06-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

Since my partner in crime has blogged about the fashion shows, I feel pressured to bring to you the feminine side of this blog, with preferably more pictures of females than males :) For those of you who're really into fashion previews, simply click on the pictures to go to each designer's Fall'08 collection, or simply visit STYLE.COM!

I love Christian Lacroix for his solid bright colors, and the fact that his ready-to-wear clothes actually look wearable. Soon, I'll post pictures from McQueen's collection. As much as I love his style, it seems like his female collection is created for anorexic females.

Milan/Paris Fashion Week!

2008-06-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Alright folks, it's the time of the year when we get to preview the upcoming Spring/Summer collection of various designers. As it is now, the Milan show is already over, while the Paris show just kicks off today, which means, collections from McQueen (our favorite designer!), Jil Sander and Marni -to name a few- are already available for preview. From the Paris show, we've got to see Number (N)ine, Yohji and Dries -I'm not going to name all of them here, only those whom I care enough to preview.

Here are my personal favorites from each designer and the links to style.com collection directory of the designer in context.

McQueen (Love the tailoring! As exemplified by the jacket below)

Jil Sander (Feels like a weird mish-mash of Raf items from the past two seasons or so... See the picture below as an illustration)

Yohji (Interesting choice of models... See below for example)

Dries (Feels a lot more subtle than his typical stuff, at least in terms of color palette)

N(N) (Simply WTF...)

Still to come from Paris : Mihara, Ann (Yay!!!), Raf (Yay!!!!), Lanvin (More yay!!!!!), CdG, Junya and Damir. Stay tuned....

Technoviking Leads The Way..

2008-06-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

Last time I heard anything Viking was from Entourage (HBO series). Drama was into comic books and vikings.

This is hilarious, but look closely at his hands somewhere in the middle of the vid! It drives me nuts how I can't do it, no matter how hard I practice. I guess great techno legends all can do it, like Grigori Yip Yip Yip.

A Billi

2008-06-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

Call me Philli Collins I feel the billion is in the air....

Chemistry.com

2008-06-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

Was browsing BB's website and I chanced upon this disturbing ad. "IT DOESNT GET THIS HOT AT EHARMONY". Chemistry.com sure has an interesting marketing strategy going on, marketing its non-homosexual-free database so aggressively. Everyday I see something interesting that opens my eyes wide - be it a marni bracelet, or an chemistry.com ad.

Why The TV Is Evil

2008-06-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

Recalling my primary school days, I reminisce the time I used to read a book a day. English class had these book lists going. "Sweet Valley High" and "The Babysitters Club" were the books everyone fought to be the first to have read them. As you probably have guessed, I'm from an all-girls school. Not a convent, or SVH would have been banned. As I entered my teen years, going out and catching newly released movies became the "in thing". And as each month passed, my reading lists started to increase at a decreasing rate.

Now that summer has arrived and I'm bored to death, stuck in this college town ironically called Happy Valley, I slowly urge myself to read once again. So here's the first book I'm reading in 2008. Paulo Coelho's works are definitely inspiring. Check out The Alchemist and Veronika Decides to Die. They were so captivating I had to read each from beginning to end at one go.