tipping my blue beanie

tipping my blue beanie
Originally uploaded by +kdis

BlueBeanieDay 2k9

{ I only had a black beanie, so I improvised. }

Monday, November 30th, 2009 marks the third annual International Blue Beanie Day in Support of Web Standards. Show your support to help make the internets a better place.

_ 30 Nov 2k9

Primal website is live!

I posted a new web design project on my portfolio site. We just launched the site this week. You can check it out here.

---
National Community Church's lead pastor Mark Batterson recently published his third book Primal + asked Bittersweet Creative Group to design + develop a microsite to go with it. I designed a layout which, upon site reveal, would immediately evoke an earthy, dark + mysterious mood, but juxtaposed the luminous warm tones + textures from the cover design to help bring light to the composition.
---

_ 17 Nov 2k9

Nando's Peri Peri Restaurant

1/2 chicken w/ Peri Peri hot sauce, fries, + garlic bread
Originally uploaded by +kdis

J read about a new restaurant in the Washington Post that just opened in Dupont [the chain has been around since 1987 in South Africa]. Their flame-grilled chicken + flavours derive from the countries of Mozambique + Portugal. It sounded pretty good so we decided to check out. Pretty inexpensive for the both of us. Our meal came to about 18 bucks including the bottomless frozen yogurt. The chicken portion seemed kind of small at first for each person, but the choices of 2 sides [we got fries + garlic bread] helps you fill up + feel satisfied.

If you're ever in Dupont near 18th St NW + Connecticut Ave NW, you should definitely check it out. They also have another location in Chinatown at 7th + H Sts NW.

_ 24 May 2k9
_ taken w/ my new LG phone :)
_ @ Nando's Peri Peri Restaurant

Radio 4 made a video, yo.

{ link c/o milone }

FAITH NO MORE IS BACK !!

Omigosh, I am so ecstatic!! But, they seriously need a new website... It hasn't been updated since they broke up in 1998, no joke.

0__0

Here is the official statement via fnm.com:

FAITH NO MORE

Faith No More has always stood out as some sort of unique beast; part dog, part cat--its music almost as schizophrenic as the personalities of its members. When it all worked, it worked really well, even if the chemistry was always volatile. Throughout our 17years of existence, the mental and physical energy required to sustain this creature was considerable and relentless. Though amicable enough, when we finally split, we all followed paths seemingly destined to opposite ends of the universe.

Yet during the entire 10 years that have passed since our decision to break up we've experienced constant rumors and requests from fans and promoters alike. Nevertheless, for whatever reason, none of us kept in regular touch, much less to discuss any possibilities of getting together.

What's changed is that this year, for the first time, we've all decided to sit down together and talk about it. And what we've discovered is that time has afforded us enough distance to look back on our years together through a clearer lens and made us realize that through all the hard work, the music still sounds good, and we are beginning to appreciate the fact that we might have actually done something right.

Meanwhile we find ourselves at a moment in time with zero label obligations, still young and strong enough to deliver a kickass set, with enthusiasm to not only revisit our past but possibly add something to the present. And so with this we've decided to hold our collective breaths and jump off this cliff....
BACK, GOD FORBID, INTO THE MONKEY CAGE!!!

We can only hope that the experience of playing together again will yield results erratic and unpredictable enough to live up to the legacy of FNM.
Who know where this will end or what it will bring up...only the future knows. But we are about to find out!

FAITH NO MORE are:
Mike Bordin, Roddy Bottum, Bill Gould, Jon Hudson and Mike Patton

*doing the happy dance*

< plug >China Bistro< /plug >

pan-fried Mama's Dumplings stuffed w/ pork, shrimp, napa cabbage + chives
Originally uploaded by +kdis

We { heart } dumplings + we were on a mission.
J sent me a link from the Post about a restaurant by the name of China Bistro. Upon his workmates' recommendations, he suggested we should go check it out one weekend. The place was tiny enough to fit four 4-seat tables—although, I suspect there was additional seating in the back room behind the counter—but we only had to wait 10 minutes to be seated. Our food didn't take too long to arrive either. It probably came about 15 minutes after we ordered.

It's a great spot if you want more of the authentic Chinese cuisine. The dumplings were all fresh, hand-made, + oh so good. After each bite, I kept telling J that I was so happy he brought me here. I know, I'm an odd one. ;)

The drive was a bit more tedious than what we're used to, but it was well worth it. What's funny is that they are located on "Hungerford Drive". ;) *nyum*

If you're in the area, you must check it out. They're open all week till 9:30pm.



_ 11 Jan 2k9
_ @ China Bistro
_ Rockville, MD

THANK GOODNESS FOR HELVETIREADER !!

*yay*

Now my eyes don't hurt when I look at my Google Reader window.

No offense, Google, but somebody had to come up with a skin for your feed reader. Look at it this way: At least you won my heart with Gmail themes. :)





» Get your own Helvetireader. Now.

new Kinsey print

HUGE fan of Kinsey's style. The new poster will be available via BLK/MRKT Editions tomorrow, December 10th. It will sell out, fo sho.


REGENERATION



18 x 24" 4/C screenprint on 100% cotton rag. Signed edition of 145.

I need your clicks! Please vote for my photo entry!

I know, I know... Shameless self-promotion is at hand, but I thought I would give it a shot. I mean, why not if I have the chance to win $1,000 scholarship or cash, right? Lend me a hand, or at least a mouse click, + please vote for my photo!

* Muchas gracias, everyone. :)

Photo Shoot Out 2 Brickfish

Voting ends October 3, 2008 11:30 PM (PT). To read more details about this contest, click your cursor here.

I just had to...

I just had to...
Originally uploaded by +kdis

... switch out the photo on sissyphus dot com.

Even though NYC is awesome, it didn't feel right to have a winter coat featured on the front page in the middle of a balmy summer.

+++
Copyright © 2008 Sissyphus | Design. All rights reserved.

_ 22 Aug 2k8

Bye now...

... Kolkata awaits.



See you soon.

Shy Child? Who? Cowbell? What? Keytar? Why??

The other night, I was up late [uh, like tonight] + couldn't sleep so I tried watching random things on the tele to tire my eyes out. While flipping channels, Samuel L. Jackson popped up on screen. Now, Mr. Jackson is just the kind of person that immediately commands anyone's attention, so I watch for a bit to see what the man was up to. He walks into this auditorium filled with a massive audience, which he is supposedly hosting along with Uma Thurman. It was for the UK's Swarovski Fashion Rocks for The Prince's Trust benefit where they integrate live musical acts with fashion models strutting their stuff down the stage-turned-catwalk. And by "stuff", I mean the stuff VersaceArmaniDolce+GabbanaCalvinKleinChanelBurberry are made of.

"Ooo..."

So, yeh. Next thing I know, I'm glued to my *coughIKEAcough* couch + end up watching the entire show front to back. I really thought it was interesting the way they mixed in both industries onto one stage. Made for a fun show, no doubt about that. Oh, something funny... While the video crew was panning the audience, they spotted Gwyneth Paltrow covering her ears in discomfort during Iggy Pop + the Stooge's brash performance. I guess she doesn't really like that type of rock even though she is wed to a "rockstar". Hehe, it was hilarious. All the while, folks like Kate Moss were busy rocking out + weren't afraid to show it. Yee-uh.

One band @ Fashion Rocks that caught my ear is called Shy Child, which is a 2-man band from NYC complete with vox + synth keytar + drumkit. Yuh. I said "keytar", as in keyboard + guitar. The song they performed, "Drop the Phone", started out a bit minimal + funky, but it peaked my attention to keep me watching--not to mention the fact that the "giraffe" models clad in Stella McCartney were playing musical chairs! Then, past the few first verses it really started to pick up; enough to get me moving.

"Oke, who are these guys?? Must find out more..."

Here, you can find out more, too.




Alright, I have to admit, the keytar just feels right with them...

NIN Ghosts I-IV

{ GET IT GET IT GET IT NOW }

Nine Inch Nails presents Ghosts I - IV, a brand new 36 track instrumental collection available right now. Almost two hours of new music composed and recorded over an intense ten week period last fall, Ghosts I - IV sprawls Nine Inch Nails across a variety of new terrain.

Trent Reznor explains, "I've been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn't have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective - dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams. I'm very pleased with the result and the ability to present it directly to you without interference. I hope you enjoy the first four volumes of Ghosts."

* referenced via NIN.com

Panforte on sanpellegrino.com

My macro photo titled "mixed" was featured on S. Pellegrino's web site! :)))
It was used for an article titled "Sienese Confections, Medieval Flavour" to help illustrate an Italian cake called Panforte.

Here is a tidbit from the article:
There are several legends: one story of the Panforte relates that it was invented by chance by a young nun who put several ingredients together - dry and candied fruit, spices, honey, a little flour - and made a strong flavoured cake that keeps for a long time, hence the name "forte".

"The official [San Pellegrino] website is dedicated to the S.Pellegrino and and Acqua Panna waters - with its extensive sections spanning all the interesting nuances of Italian culture, from the thousands peculiarities of our food and wine tradition to works of architecture, art and design; from the selected tourist itineraries to the best restaurants, their gourmet cooking and the Italian Lifestyle on the whole."

Many thanks to Michela @ Besanopoli!

_ 23 Nov 2k7

in honour

Passionately Pink for the Cure
"Showcase your passion for the cure by uploading passionately pink photos to help raise vital funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Share photos in honor of a survivor, in memory of a loved one, to celebrate Passionately Pink for the Cure events. Or simply share a pink photo that inspires others to rally around the cause.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Yahoo! will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for each pink photo added to this flickr Group from October 1-31, 2007 up to $50,000! This donation will be used to fund breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.

Pick your Pink. Play Your Part. End Breast Cancer."

+++

On a very personal note... In June 2003, I underwent surgery to have a large tumor 2 inches in diameter removed from within my left side. When it grew noticeably large, I was really freaked out + too scared to figure out what I needed to do that I didn't tell anyone about it at first. I waited too long to have it checked. Then, I told my parents about it, + of course they were upset with me that I didn't tell them sooner. They said that our family really has no history concerning breast cancer, so that weirded me out even more. I was 25.

I have been thanking the good Lord that the biopsy proved it benign. The doc called it a "giant Fibroadenoma", which is the most common benign breast tumors seen in women under the age of 35 years. It was the very first time I have ever been under the knife so it was quite nerve-racking. I wanted to recount what I was feeling during that time, so I leafed through my online journal archives + found the entry I wrote after it happened:


out from under | 24 June 2k3 _ 01:01 p.m.

"The weekend _/ i am back from going under. everything went well for those of you who are aware. it all happened last Thursday afternoon. the 1.5 hours of preparation. the reading + the signing of the millions of papers. the waiting. "You're going to start to feel a bit relaxed, hon." photos to document to be picked up tomorrow evening. recovering from a deep sleep an hour or so later. very supportive family + friends. phone calls from distant + not-so-distant loved ones. much needed days off. first [+ hopefully last] time for everything. thank the lord for watching over everyone, meaning EVERYONE involved."


To all the ladies out there, examine yourselves + be aware.


PHOTO NOTES:
_ 15 Sept 2k7
_ The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

loving the new M.I.A. album!

... of course, thanks to Mila. ^__^



I'd link to her official site, but the page might give you epilepsy. So, peep her myspace page instead.

Black Fire

The weekend we moved into our new apartment, we decided to take a break from lifting to feed our bellies. Driving around the city, we heard a Native American chant + punk music—two things I love. So, me + J parked the car off Independence + moved towards the sound. It lead us to the front of the NMAI building.

A large crowd—some sitting, many standing—was collected in front of 4 tall individuals on a stage. They called themselves Black Fire, a passionate Native American band of siblings with a purpose. Their father also joined them on stage to add in traditional chants on a few songs. Joining of the old + new. I was immediately hooked. I have found myself a new band. ^__^

» blackfire.net
» myspace.com/blackfire
» myspace.com/blackfirerocks

_ 18 Aug 2k7
_ National Museum of the American Indian
_ Washington, DC

Sweet!

For a long time, I've been wanting to customize my own route just to figure out a faster way to get around town. Google Maps has finally figured it out + that makes me a very happy driver. The drag + drop feature is FABULOSO. You can also add multiple stops on your way to your final destination. And it's about dang time, too.



// Customize every step of your next trip

Sometimes I'd like...

...to drop everything just to go back to the reason why I fell in love with art in the first place. Drawing is something I don't do much anymore—except, of course, if you count the funky handwriting I draw on my morning task lists at work.

Again, I am here to shout out loud about the creativity flowing out from others that inspire me. I scrolled through my weekly newsletter from the good folks at Lost At E Minor [Gine should hook herself up with this, too] + the work of an artist by the name of Autumn Whitehurst caught my eye. Now, when you look through her portfolio, what you're seeing is all vector art [for those who aren't aware of the jargon, there are no photos/pixels involved—it's ALL created art + shapes if that makes any sense]. Her detailing is amazing + so lifelike. You should definitely scope her work.

With that said, what are you waiting for? Go! Go! Go!

"When you care enough to hit send"

I really can't take credit* for discovering this gem of a link.

Curious? Send that special someone SomeECard today.


They remind me of those pessimistic inspirational lithos. ;)

*I found this via a fellow flickrite's site Weightshift.

plug + plug =

*drool on both your skills!* I discovered 2 very talented artists out there that I feel deserve another plug or two on das interneten via my bloggity blog. Makes me want to break out my sketch pads again. *bigsigh*

Presentin' with honour...

• byroglyphics
  
• echo chernik
  

*Editor's note: I would really love to display a sample of their beautiful art somewhere within this entry, but I feel it wouldn't be right unless I had their permission. So, that just means you have no choice but to click on the links above. :)