When “Twilight” came into the big screen, I was almost surrounded by vampire-related books in bookstores, merchandise, clothes, body ointments (have you seen the body glitter product? oh dear…) and more! Once I was a very amazed and awestruck of everything vampire related. They were either sophisticated, sexily lustful, mighty intelligent or brashly handsome, I would readily let them suck my blood anytime! But now, with mainstream vampire genre going around, these ‘creatures’ has lost their appeal to me.

And just now, I found out zombies are also taking over parts of literature.

Personally, zombies are icky, gross and plainly the ultimate example of the walking undead. These creatures are often the things to shoot at in games and they are just the brainless dead meant to be ignored or destroyed when pestered by them. Recently, they had taken in a new ‘persona’, if I may call it that way, since they have weaved their way through classic literature and some recommendable readings.

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance – Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!
• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Zombie Jim: Mark Twain’s Classic with Crazy Zombie Goodness
• The War of the Worlds Plus Blood, Guts and Zombies

Gaah! What the heck is happening? Though in a way, I was mighty intrigued since I was so bored in reading anything created by Jane Austen, I wasn’t able to finish a single book of hers. LOL. Maybe, with this ‘version’, the result would be different.

There are other intriguing literary titles that had taken a slight shift to current pop mainstream genres. You can check out:

• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
• Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

I have a feeling this could aid non-bookworms to actually pick up a book and read. As a former officemate said, “with such fine reading, ahhh…there’s hope yet for literacy he he”.

Listed below are the Oscar 2010 winners.

Directing – “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
Best Picture – “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro, Producers
Actor in a Leading Role – Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
Actor in a Supporting Role – Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
Actress in a Leading Role – Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Actress in a Supporting Role – Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) – “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
Film Editing – “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Writing (Original Screenplay) – “The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
Sound Editing – “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
Sound Mixing – “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
Art Direction – “Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg
Visual Effects – “Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair?Cinematography – “Avatar” Mauro Fiore
Animated Feature Film – “Up” Pete Docter
Music (Original Score) – “Up” Michael Giacchino
Costume Design – “The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell
Documentary (Feature) – “The Cove” Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens
Documentary (Short Subject) – “Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
Foreign Language Film – “The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)” Argentina
Makeup – “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
Music (Original Song) – “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Short Film (Animated) – “Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
Short Film (Live Action) – “The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

I was expecting Avatar to get more awards but… oh well

Every year, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated with a different UN theme. This year, 2010, the UN theme is “Empowering women can break the cycle of hunger and poverty. Daily, women are on the front line against hunger”.

Even if we are in times of modernization, where women walk side by side with men to continue the circle of life, there are still parts in this world wherein women are seen as low-lifes, not worthy of rights, and are abused.

Please send or forward this message of solidarity.

Let us support this women empowerment to fight hunger.

I’ve always posted stuff of current discussion or of a focal theme. I want to do something different and decided to post stuff at random. According to an article I’ve read, it is good exercise to have thoughts put down into words even without structure. The idea is to get all ideas seen in tangible form and later work on them to perfection.

So here are my ramblings for today:

1. For a regular employee, I have come to a point again of burnout and frustration. I wish there was a free agency that could just point out to you what you are meant to do in life so you won’t be depressed by how time passes you by and you don’t feel accomplished at all.

2. I envy people who have many social network followers. Celebrities, politicians, athletes like justin bieber twitter, etc. I know the number is not important but I wish I could have a lot to feel I’m loved.

3. I never understood the redskins fanatism boys get. But then, I’m a girl, so I guess that is understandable. I just wish men would not shut women out as they expect their women to have time for them when the women are busy with their own stuff.

4. I would like to see the giants of Marinduque. I’m not sure if I’m saying the right place. I just know I want to see these giants.

5. Oakland raiders, another subject to serve as an excuse for men to shut their women out during a game. Or forget an important date for that matter, like anniversaries.

6. I always wonder how Melbourne looks like. It’s one of those common places I often hear from friends who have been to US. Is it a tourist destination of some sort?

7. As a kid, I had dreamed to fly something. A jet, a plane, a helicopter, something. But then again, I have really poor eyesight now so that would be close to impossible XD

8. I would like to hold an adult eagle. I remember the one I saw in Bohol last week and I wonder how it would feel to be loved and pet by a wild bird.

9. The oscars are here. I’m not updated on who is nominated and such but I wonder who will win.

10. Would I appreciate Alice when I watch it later?

Well that’s all for now. A start on daily ramblings of my life.

This time though, there seem to be a change in plans since documentaries have now taken the line-up of the said event.

As usual, Japan Foundation Manila has teamed up with Shangri-la Plaza and UP Film Institute to showcase Video Act! Japanese Documentary Film Now!” absolutely FREE. These are a combination of real life facts based on political, cultural and social issues in Japan.

NOTE: To view schedule of films, please click on image on left.

Here is a synopsis of each of the 5 award winning japanese films to be shown.

This year’s offering brings an especially satisfying choice of 5-films starting with the film shot in the Philippines titled, ‘Basura’ directed by Hiroshi Shinomiya. The film presents the lives of impoverished residents thriving to live and make a living in Smokey Mountain, a huge garbage dump site in the Philippines. This movie follows the life of the trash scavengers that the director covered and interviewed in his previous films.

‘A Normal Life, Please!’, directed by Tokachi Tsuchiya blows the lid on the Japanese government’s gradual easing of labour regulations, as an overworked truck driver takes up the flight for worker’s rights in Japan. The film won the 2009 Best Documentary in the 17th Raindance Film Festival in London and the Muhr Asia Africa Awards of the 6th Dubai International Film Festival.

‘Chain of Life – the Artistry of Mokuhanzome Kimono’, directed by Kaori Ishii, examines the life of an artisan who uses cherry blossom wood stamps to transform a solid piece of fabric into a kimono. This piece of fabric used the oldest dyeing technique in history, called Mokuhanzome wood print dyeing. Although this technique had once become almost extinct, in the artisan’s eyes, it appeared as something entirely new; and, that was where his exploration of the technique began.

The film ‘A Permanent Part-timer in Distress’ directed by Hiroki Iwabuchi chronicles the lives of freeters – a Japanese term referring to educated young people between the ages of 15 to 34 who are forced to work low-paying, unskilled part-time jobs. It also explores Iwabuchi’s journey as he becomes a spokesperson and lobbyist for the rights of freeters in Japan.

Finally, ‘The Sparkle of Fragments’, directed by Shinji Takahashi narrates the story of mentally ill patients at the Hirakawa Hospital attending plastic arts workshop. Most of them had never made any drawings before, but have gradually attached great importance to practice art as an irreplaceable act for their existence. The film won an Audience Award for Documentary at the 2008 Veseol International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in France.

Of course, all films will be shown with English subtitles. For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, please access the Japan Foundation, Manila website: www.jfmo.org.ph or call the JFM telephone numbers (+632) 811-6155 to 58.

NOTE: To view schedule of films, please click on image found above.

Alice in Wonderland Story

Before I do so, I’m doing a bit of review on the alice in wonderland story. I was given a book many years ago by some relatives and since then, I grew to understand alice in wonderland story bit by bit. Most of the modern versions are simpler and far more understandable and some can be considered children’s book material. The original Alice story consisted of very long poems and some complex logic from characters. It takes time for one to appreciate the non-children’s version of Alice but it’s one literature that will definitely transcend for all time.

Just recently, my favorite ebook provider, WOWIO, emailed a newsletter of various alice in wonderland summary collection. I couldn’t believe there are so many versions of Alice already!

There’s a hi-resolution version of the original manuscript, a heroine on comics version, a mother and wife role, a remix warrior and others! It’s pretty amazing!

You can also try to check out this other Alice collection!

Read on people! They’re cool! :d

Do not judge me people just because I admit I like man to man love stories. Everyone has their weird likes and dislikes. In my case, I am not ashamed to tell every I like this genre. If you don’t like what I’m saying, beat it for now.

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Just recently, my friend told me she found this collection of man to man love stories. Aghast the she didn’t told me earlier, I asked what kind of stories they were. They came in many forms and varieties, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one. Of course, with her knowing that I am a yaoi fiction fan, she sent me one one titled “Handyman”.

For those who aren’t aware, yaoi is also known as Boy’s Love. It is a popular term for female-oriented fictional media that focuses on homoromantic male relationships. Often these are found in mainstream anime and manga works, sometimes as focal theme or as a form of parody in the form of yaoi ficion.

With me as a bona-fide anime fan, though I have passed that stage by now, yaoi fiction still holds a strong pull to its fans no matter how they get. Trust me, I’m a living proof of this. Tee hee hee!

Going back to “Handyman”, here is a short synopsis of the ebook shared to me:

High-powered stock trader. Simple handyman. Can they find common ground?

Will Spencer is a player with a reputation for using and discarding lovers as easily as he earns big money on Wall Street. Handsome, sexy and openly gay, he’s used to having whatever—and whoever—he wants at the snap of his fingers.

And what he wants now is his new handyman, Jack Crawford. But Jack is skittish. One lingering touch, one stolen kiss could send the older man into full retreat. Where Will might have quickly moved on to a more ready-and-willing partner, he unexpectedly finds himself wanting to go slow. With just a little coaxing, he’s sure he can show Jack how good it could be between them.

Jack, a recent widower, never thought of himself as gay. Frightened years ago by an erotic encounter with his best friend, he focused firmly on his marriage. Now that his bed is empty, however, those deep sexual longings are rising dangerously close to the surface.

Their connection is deep, instant, and one that Jack tries to ignore. Yet friendship grows into an erotic journey that must cross a divide of different generations, backgrounds and worlds.

The prize is the one thing neither is sure he can handle—true love.

Warning: Hot, delicious male/male erotic romance. Danger: Explicit m/m sex.

So what makes this genre so popular among females? I’m not sure either. I never did a detailed research on psychological or societal factors to produce a strong support on this fact. I can only presume the following reasons based on my personal opinion.

What yaoi fiction has a strong following:

1. Anything that is still considered ‘taboo’ in many societies can be an exciting thing to be seen by many. Yes, even if a lot of us already accept the gay community, there are still closed minded idiots who think otherwise.

2. There is something particularly appealing in seeing men love each other dearly, especially in a sexual way. If men find it particularly arousing to see two women ‘do it’, it’s the same thing for the women.

3. Mainstream anime and manga can have a pretty large following. Often, fans don’t get much of the action they want to happen between their fave characters, especially when it concerns pretty boys. With that in mind, fans will make it happen on their terms.

4. Man to man love is an open field of conversation for the extent of true love, which a lot of females will really find appealing. True love going over the boundaries of society’s norms is really romantic.

Whatever other reason there is a large following for yaoi fiction, I consider it an eye opener of our societies’ evolution. We have to learn to accept changes in our society and learn how to deal with it. Let us not close our minds to what is clearly obvious and please, do not judge females like me for liking this genre. I believe it is because of this stories we learn to be more open-minded and supportive of other people, despite what some society still considers taboo.

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Aa box of 20 costs P299. Let us be be enchanted as the newest Krispy Kreme Minis proves its “Mini size, big taste” slogan. I can’t wait to try it out!