Sunday, July 29, 2007
BrAwL WaNtZ mOre ScReEn TiMe!
Gundam Paint Session (Testing Lang)
Ready for a bout of vandalism... I mean sprue painting.
I thought this was a mess, but it really only looks bad in pictures, they actually look better up close and personal.
Same part after paint apps... (looks better in person)
All that's left now is to let them dry and panel lines, and finally construction.
Deathly Hallows Impressions... (spoiler free)
Well for one thing, it was a pretty decent ride, I had doubts that so many issues would be left unresolved due to all the action that was taking place, that not much of the story progressed. Particularly the entire Horcrux arc, then about 2\3rds into the book things sped up.
Sped up really really really fast!
It was so fast that I felt after I blinked a lot has already happened. Don't get me wrong it still is a very good read, and a worthy addition to the Harry Potter series. However, I get the overall impression that things happened so fast that some things that were supposed to be drawn out were not. Particularly the deaths in this book, boy are there deaths. From the first few chapters characters start dying already, and some of them pretty significant. It was kind of odd that I made an entry on predictions on Deathly Hallows, and ironically some of them hit the bill! I must be psychic, or a wizard! Honestly, some of those predictions hit the book square on the spine!
Weee for me, AVADA KEDAVRA! (green light) hey it worked... I killed a mosquito!
The book, leaves me a little wanting more. I didn't get the full blown out satisfaction I was expecting as I read the book. JK always did say that she wrote the final chapter ahead of the last book so she would have something to write towards to. Maybe this caused the difference in the overall pacing of the book.
Don't take my word for it however...
I still strongly urge HP readers out there to complete the book amidst all (if any) negative impressions floating out there. It still provides the last chapter to the entire saga, and closes the series a bit abruptly, but at least with a certain degree of finality...
PS. The last word of the book isn't scar! lolx
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Book 7 Updates... Almost Done! (Still Worried...lol)
I know many out there have finished the book ages ago, but I just can't bring myself to complete the book in the span of time it takes to read this sentence. I just find that reading books at breakneck speeds decreases the visceral experience of reading in general. The 6th book I read in the span of a day, and after a very big headache and really tired eyes. I found that I didn't enjoy the experience of super fast reading. That the book just zipped by and I didn't even get to feel the pages as I read page by page, the enjoyment of reading a book whilst propped upon a soft cushy pillow eating sweets and drinking milk... The best!
So I decided to approach the very last Harry Potter Book as such. The result is that my pace is only slightly faster than watching grass grow. Its a pain that I am left to ponder whats coming up and avoiding spoilers while tackling the book at the same time. However bothersome though, it is still an enjoyable experience.
Now on with the book...
( WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! YOU CAN STILL TURN BACK)
I'm officially 2/3rds done with the book and a lot has happened. I now know the reason behind The title "Deathly Hallows" and have seen a few more deaths along the way. At this point in the book, the three main antagonist are still intact, albeit a little worn for wear. Certain peripheral characters were killed off, and one transitory major/minor character was also killed off. There was finally some closure to the entire Horcrux problem, but there were 7 and not all were still accounted for. With only but a third of the book to go, I'm getting even more worried at the ultimate outcome of this all. Remember about the new plot device that would be introduced to speed up the story I was talking about... "Deathly #$@#cough#$%%^% Hallows *&$^ cough!"
It's a ride! With very little rest in between action elements (making the dull sessions really dull lolx... I'm tempted to just breeze through these sections, honestly speaking) making for one really action packed book. It's so far a great addition to the series, I still have the remainder to determine if it truly is the pinnacle of Harry Potter books.
Well, Ill keep you posted as I complete the book.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Food Trip: Pizza Co.
This time, we're reviewing a pizza-pasta combination at Pizza Co. When I first tried eating there I really didn't know what to expect. It just really seemed to me at the time an overblown Pizza Hut with way more outrageous prices. However, I soon found out that Pizza Hut this was not. The menu items for review this time are the fettuccine florentine, and the standard crispy pepperoni pizza.
Let's get things started with the florentine. Their florentine is a creamy white based fettuccine generously sprinkled with ham slices, spinach and bacon bits. The creamy consistency is such that each bite brings with it small portions of happiness in the form of warm and mildly sweet cream wrapped around a soft yet firm fettuccine noodle. The cheese seems to be already incorporated into the creamy mixture leaving a very slight after cheesy taste that pours out as the cream unifies the flavor into a singular impetus. The overall experience of biting into that forkful of noodles, creamy-cheesy sauce, ham, and spinach all together in a unified orchestra is totally satisfying. The cream offsets the slightly (yet very mild) bitterly taste to the spinach which compliments the natural sweetness brought about the creamy sauce and tender ham slices. Topped off with a generous sprinkling of pepper completes the entire package really well.
Next up is the pepperoni pizza. The reason I did this review together was that, the pepperoni, though really tasty, doesn't really do well enough on its own as I find the pizza to be generally too acidic (too much tomatoey redness) for my tastes. The pizza pulls off the traditional pepperoni pizza really well, the cheese, the pepperoni and the tomato paste are all well combined, however there is a distinct acidity to the pizza as a whole, but that's generally what you get when you order a pepperoni pizza. I also found no fault in the crispness of the pizza dough, it was done well and the crispness lasted the entire meal glad to say. Although tastes vary from person to person, I found the acidity too over powering, so to counter and at the same time compliment the acidity we pair this pizza with a white based pasta...
This is the dynamic duo in action, the best way to approach this combo it to use the pizza as a form of garlic bread (or bread in general), and use it to mop up the sauce, or top the pasta directly onto the pizza ensuring that the creamy texture mixes with the acidic tomato paste, the resulting blend will nullify the acidity and blend both the sweet and tangy natures of the pizza pasta combo making for one tasty treat! The meal will most likely set you back about 400 to 500 Pesos, and that feeds about two people sufficiently, I will still complain however that there just isn't enough florentine to go around...
Damihan nyo portions nyo! It's all good though, just a suggestion... Wink Wink!
As for drinks however, well lets say that Senses Lumines explains in detail why I didn't really review any drinks with this particular meal... Link up and see for yourself his assessment of their thirst quenchers.
Book 7 Updates... Worried (lol)
Currently tackling Deathly Hallows, and its officially the third day its been out. A lot of people have already finished reading the book and already know what happened. Some others I saw perusing the book's last chapters only (in for the spoilers lolx). What can I say, so far it has its ups and downs, but it definitely is action packed. Much so that, the tamer scenes tend to get a little dull (but really very rare). Yes, at just about halfway through the book there have been a couple of deaths, and worse of all, hardly any resolutions.
I'm getting a little worried where this is all going...
I get the impression the book is a little too thin for its aspiration, unless by some miraculous plot device everything is wrapped up just as I complete the latter half of the book.
For now I will continue to dodge spoilers, (there are a lot going around) and continue to read a chapter or two every chance I get.
Keep you posted.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Food Trip: Don Henrico's
Today I will be reviewing two staple dishes at Don Hen's. Well, at least staples whenever my friends and I have the time (and funding... lolx mahal kasi kumain sa labas e) to eat there. Actually, my sidekick who is also a master of the art of fine dining introduced me to the magic that is Don Hen's, so I give credit where it's due... THANK YOU! for introducing me to a slice of poultry and potato ecstasy. The dish or rather dishes in question are their buffalo wings and chizzy fries, and when taken together are a match made in food heaven!
First off, lets take a closer look at their chizzy fries. Priced at less than 200 Pesos (mura n yun, kac madami naman e... lolx) their chizzy fries comes with its signature bacon and cheese dip that's inside a container resembling a tea cup (malukong lang ata yan e!)
Upon closer inspection, you see that their fries are actually made of potato wedges! Wedges that have been fried until a golden, crispy outside layer is formed keeping the soft potatoey goodness locked within.
When you take a potato wedge and dip it in its default dressing (default kasi iba gamit namin na dressing... more on that later) you will find that the cheeze will easily cling to the potato's surface and along with it a generous spread of crispy bacon bits. The dip's consistency is such, that you can hold the wedge with your fork and have the dip remain there in its tempting glory as it slowly oozes down the wedges side covering the colden crispy outer layer with a sheath of cheesy goodness topped off with bacon bits making for one deluctable cheesy-potatoey-baconey bite. YUM!
Next up, as a contrast to the starchy carbs are the buffalo wings. Don Hen's buffalo wings are not actually that expensive, (may pagka mahal din naman kasi ng konti) what makes it a little too hard to swallow is that they come in increments of 3s, 6s, and 10s (correct me if I'm wrong, as we usually just stick with the 3pc set) and for the 3pc pack its priced at just around 350 Pesos. So, if you're dining el solo... malas mu! Just kidding, but that's still the case anyway as it's a little too much for just one person...
The entree' comes with the buffalo wings themselves as well as another tea cup (malukong nga e!) filled with their ranch dressing. They may not look that substantial, but 1 alone is enough to fill the average person, well so long as its matched with potato wedges!
The buffalo wings themselves are covered in a special barbecue sauce that when combined with their creamy ranch dressing makes for a pretty potent palate stimulator. They completely flavor the buffalo wing and adding the ranch dressing to the juicy and tender bbq chicken only increases the sweet tangy combination of flavors that will surely please your taste buds. DOUBLE YUM!
These are the twins of joy and happiness! Their barbecue sauce, and their ranch dressing. Now a little about their sauces\dips\dressings. The ranch dressing is so flexible that we customize the other sauces\dips by adding a portion of the ranch dressing to them. It's not gross to those who think so, it's actually quite tasty! We take a portion of the ranch dressing and mix it into the cheezy-bacon dip of the potato wedges, this combination adds a certain creaminess to the already yummy dip. It enhances the flavor by adding a creamy-tangy element that contrasts really well with the potato wedges. Try it out for yourself sometime, who knows you may enjoy it too!
Here's the meal in total. Buffalo wings, chizzy fries and green iced tea on the side. By the way, the green iced tea of Don Hen's is pretty cool too in more ways than one, for a more in depth analysis of the wonderful bottomless drink mosey on down to Senses Lumines, His assessment of food and beverages are more finely attuned than mine.
In closing, the amalgamation of flavors that come from eating buffalo wings and potato wedges washed down with the occasional gulp of green iced tea, is one of the finer dining moments that I have come to enjoy. Try it out sometime, eating a set like this will easily fulfill two people (of husky size) and will only cost around 350 Pesos each!
Incidentally, do buffalo's even have wings? Just kidding...
(gutom na ako)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Deathly Hollows... Super Spoilers (maybe)
1.) Harry Potter is a Horcrux... hahahaha, patay dapat cla dalawa! Joke...
2.) Harry Potter is the opposite of a Horcrux... a uhmmm... a Rainbowcrux
3.) Ron and Hermione will die
4.) Neville's parents will recover from the lulu house.
5.) Voldemort is just really insecure and didn't breastfeed as a child.
6.) R.A.B. is more or less confirmed to be a family member of Sirius (Regulus is most popular)
7.) Snape is good but dies in the end.
8.) Snape is bad but becomes good then dies at the end.
9.) Snape is bad and dies at the end.
10.) special... This ones long so see below...
JK Rowling mentioned that the last word of the entire book would in all likelihood be "scar", so in anticipation to that, the last sentence of the book would probably read...
"As the Harry battled the dark lord amidst the center of the forgotten coliseum, a ray of light appears.
Fawkes flaps her majestic wings and before them shone a shinning visage of a man, Dumbledore surrounded by flames.
"Bluddy Hewol" Shouted Ron while holding a limp and dying Hermione.
Harry beaten and broken turned to Dumbledore's visage and pointed his wand...
"Now is the time Harry you received all your power." Said Dumbledore's image.
Harry Screams "LiberataTotemeExInferis"
and suddenly... @#$*@ !
"Ow"... screamed Gelo...
"Why? What's the matter Gelo?" Asked Wayne who was sleeping beside him.
(hehehe Bday ni Wayne naman daw, C Gelo na mahilig katabi mga me bday...!)
"I had a dream..."
"A dream..?" Asked Wayne
"Yes, I dreamed I was a boy in a fantastic world!"
"Owz?!" Sabi ni Wayne
"UU, and I had a scar" Gelo Exclaims...
"owz?! talaga?! kulang ka lang sa talsik ata Gelo e... hahahahaha" Sabi ni Wayne.
"Che! Panget Ka, Mukha kang Laway!" Sabi Ni Gelo...
Then the next day in London, a picket line forms in front of JK Rowlings House... Lolx
Stay Tuned for ACTUAL spoilers as soon as I read the book... Hehehe (Evil...Evil).
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Harry Potter Fever!
Di nga, kakainis talaga yung chracter nya! Which means effective yung pag portray nya...
Another noteworthy addition was Evannah Lynch playing as the ever Loopy Luna Lovegood. Her portrayal was another example of excellent casting in my opinion. Although given the standard Harry Potter Movie problems with certain ugly (or otherwise not so attractive people) being casted by people who are now rather attractive, or no longer look the part, she too falls prey to "looking too good for her character", but who's complaining?
The movie was still a good thrills/frills bonanza for just under 3 hours, and yeah the fight scenes were particularly good but a little short. The deviations from the book not too severe, however I read somewhere that the proper sequence of approaching the entire Harry Potter world from an outsiders point of view would be to watch the movies first, then read the books later. Good advice for the three or four people who actually didn't read Harry Potter...
Speaking of books, as I write this entry now. The final installment of the Harry Potter books published is arriving this Saturday, the 21st of July 2007. I have been lucky enough to have been given a registration stub , and already have a book waiting for me for all I know. All I have to do is pick it up come Saturday. I find that I enjoy the books more than I do the films, and hopefully this last one closes the chapter on the entire Harry Potter saga with dignity, and the proper ending that a 7 chapter 7 year wait deserves... More on the Harry Potter fever as I find the time...
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Love is...
Love is patient,
Love is kind,
it does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude,
it is not self seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no records or wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil,
but rejoices in the truth.
It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
...(NaKs)...
Corinthians 13:4-7
Transformers Roll Out!
Saw Transformers The Movie, and what can I say? I was blown away... It was so good, I'm still geeking out about it. Joke... Truth be told though, I really loved it. I am by heart a TF fan, watched the cartoon as a kid, and owned a couple of the toys, even now as an adult I still enjoy the occasional TF toy, so I may indeed be biased for the movie, but everyone else I know also enjoyed it (even non-fans). The Movie is a collaboration between acclaimed directors Steven Spielberg and
Starscream Before
Starscream After
As you can see from the above images, there has been a radical departure from the traditional blocky designs that governed the original Transformers, and instead we have more streamlined metallic monsters. Don't get me wrong, after seeing the movie the designs of the new re-imagined Transformers grows on you. There are however a few kibbles as such detail and dramatically complex transformations don't normally translate well into a toy, that’s for another entry. There was one particular Decepticon that was treated with a lot of anticipation, because his design was well received. Blackout a Black Hawk chopper, was shown early on even before the films release, and he teased a lot of people into anticipating just what the others would look like.
(Pwe... Sabagay naubos din naman halos lahat ng Decepticons... Maliban ke Starscream)
(Anybody know what happened to Barricade? He just suddenly dissapeared...)
The movie is complete in itself, in that it stays true to its TF roots and also has a few little tidbits that TF fans will surely geek over. Facts like Peter Cullen reprising his role as Optimus Prime with a more upbeat dictionary ("My Bad!") and that Bumblebee hits a yellow VW beetle when he was in the car lot. One can only wait in anticipation as we expect the sequel to the film.