TSFD, a review

I started both this blog and intensive taebo due to the realization that my belly was protruding far beyond normal. Due to some unfortunate events, I eased out on exercise nearing the start of the 3rd month. I couldn't really blame myself, I was doing taebo everyday to the point that I got bored and even did it while still half asleep. Well, after the break and restarting taebo again, I'm realizing how much my body missed it. So the primary goal of this blog is still intact: that beyond working hard to look good on the outside, feeling good and healthy on the inside definitely rules.

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I haven't posted any images recently so I hope you enjoy this one. I call it "Dune-ruto". The original is from the 1984 movie of Dune and the one I stole the body from is Gurney Halleck, played by Patrick Stewart. I look horrible being old and bald =))

A teacher's smile

My vague recollection of Sir Alix is that he reprimanded my entire first year class for running in the corridors. But beyond this is his smile which he brings seemingly effortlessly. May you continue to live through your students.

X X X

Don't fly off the handle now... its XML XSL XMLStarlet. Three Xs I had to relearn to pluck out Playlist Information out of an iTunes XML file. Why do it? Coz there's challenge in it XD.
I'll leave XML and XSL for you to read on, but I'll discuss the last one. XMLStarlet is a command line XML toolkit that one can use to manipulate xml in a multitude of ways. Although I hardly delved into its full functionality, it served my purpose of transforming the iTunes XML to something I wanted.
Basing my XSL from Niel Bornstein's, I modified it to produce html code that contained the Song Name and Artist. Here's a link to the XSL.
To make an html version of a playlist, put the iTunes xml and the xsl file in the same directory as the executable of xmlstar. For example the title of your playlist in iTunes is NarutoOSTs then type xml tr bmaciTunes2html.xsl -s playlist="NarutoOSTs" library.xml >NarutoOSTs.html walah! html file XD
Problem is, for infreakncredibly large xml files, you can sleep then wake up to the program still converting it *rotfl*. Maybe I'll make an optimized version if i get the time :D

Of the Universe, Right Hands and Sanctuaries

Uchuu no Stellvia (Stellvia of the Universe)

I downloaded and watched this anime following the voice actress of my favorite character: Osaka of Azumanga Daioh. The story follows the life of a girl named Katase Shima who is slow, occasionally panicky and with only programming skills up her sleeve. The setting is hundreds of years in the future where mankind is at peace and united towards one goal: to prevent the annihilation of the solar system from a wave of fragments produced by a massive supernova explosion. Why "stellvia of the universe"? Its the name of the space station where most of the story unfolds.

I like this anime because of the realism in some of the human situations and emotions. It also shows that even in groups of 'elites' there are still those who stand-out, either thru hard work, underhanded tactics or true genius.

Midori no Hibi

A guy's "devil's right hand" mysteriously turns into a girl who has a crush on him; the idea is a bit strange, but it held my attention for its whole duration. The main point it drives is that feelings will not reach the person unless you speak/show/act on it.

Hani-Hani Operation Sanctuary

Normal school life entangled in a web of sci-fi conspiracy. I'd like to put in a good word for this, but can find none. Nothing that bad either.

That Purple Haired Girl

I've been incredibly busy these past weeks due to the style-finds project and have been missing out on posting a lot good stuff. Well anyway, I've been asked numerous times: "Who's that purple haired girl whose picture you always use?" She's Kyoko Fukada a japanese actress whom I dicovered because she had a significant role in Ringu 2.

Back to work for me then...

Hermione Kawaii

I found the grayscale version of this image while browsing through some errr.... dodgy stuff. I can take credit for the coloring and layout though so here is my 2nd blog released wallpaper. I hope you like it!



Kowaii Harry. He looks scary and evil... oh well.

The journey itself is more meaningful than the destination

My feature for today is two movies directed by Satoshi Kon, whose style of direction and storytelling rivals that of Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. I'm saying this because I've seen majority of Ghibli films and Kon's movies give a unique appeal that shows how things are, instead of how they should be.



Millennium Actress is a story about the life of an actress and what drove her to become one. The scene transitions/mix between her past, her movies and the present show masterful story weaving and keeps the viewer asking for more information and detail.




Tokyo Godfathers is an amazing story about the journey of three homeless folk (a queer, an alcoholic bum and a runaway kid) to return an abandoned baby. It is set during Christmas and in Tokyo's slums, which one would think dull but the way it was presented made it incredibly interesting.



I'm looking forward to more of Satoshi Kon's works, for I have seen that his perspective on things is so different from most of everybody else's.


Links for further reading:
Times Article
List of Works

You're Under A ... Grudge

Our babe for today plays Hitomi Tokunaga in the horror film "Ju-on: The Grudge" and Officer Natsumi Tsujimoto in You're Under Arrest Live Action. Her acting for horror is shabby but she was an acceptable berserker natsumi :D

I still have to watch Ju-on: The Grudge 2 and the american remake of The Grudge.

Tomorrow I have some sort of a shoot and I'm both excited and anxious. I'll sleep early so that I can at least be "rested". I'm also hoping that there will be cute girls there :))