They say you should never revisit your childhood heroes. They're better in your head than in real life..
Well sorry to disappoint guys but these quintet of metal geniuses which I listened to since way back when, are still around and unlike the aging metal gods Metallica, they still kick ass! Got to listen one track from their 2004 album - The Art of Dying - and woooo! Still got the same edge as "Kill As One" and their experimental stuff in "Act III". The reason why I like these guys is because unlike the other thrash metal stuff, their songs are well structured and very melodic. No trashy stuff and pointless screams, just pure MUSIC. (Sort of like a better version of Megadeth.)
Yeah.. and the best part is that these guys are FILIPINOS. 100%. 5 more reasons to be proud indeed.
Check em out here.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Death Angel Rocks!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Happy Birthday Magiting!
Damn I almost forgot.. Good thing I was reminded by Steg and DJ..
Happy Birthday Magiting 93!
Steg-Lan-DJ-Alex-Bing-Nols-Joey-Dru-Norman-Nani-Macky-Regin
17 years.. We're old brods! :) Paging Alex.. we need to post a pic here!
Happy Birthday too to Nols and Nani (Missing in Action)..
Friday, November 03, 2006
3D Post No. 2 - Vray Light Test
Busy busy busy. Im sharing what I've been up to:
It's a small living area.. Above image shows initial lighting setup.. bluish light fr the exterior side, yellow wash from the interior. Below is the final image:
C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
It may be a hard thing for an egg to become a bird; it is a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while it is still an egg. We are like eggs, today, and we either must be hatched, or go bad.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
IF
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
Friday, October 27, 2006
Untitled Zen Story
Two monks were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was falling. Coming around the bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.
"Come on, girl," said the first monk. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
The second monk did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he said. "It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"
"I left the girl there," the first monk said. "Are you still carrying her?"
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Welcome to my 3D World
Quite ironic that my favorite piece is the one posted here. It's a rendering of an oriental interior done about 3 years ago.. With the advent of more advanced 3d software, I've got better recent works but this one has a significance not only to my individual skills, but to the other 3D lords who have stamped their talents on this image.
The team involved in producing this was the early DDG team. It started out as an actual project but during one of my spare times I thought it would be cool to consolidate some of the elements the team members have worked on.. Mon modeled the bed, Rolz - the display cloth, Richard - the plants and the Buddha head, Myx - the standing Siddhartha, can't remember whether Diegh did anything here but we were probably making fun of him while we were doing the models (hehe). And Alex introduced me to the wonders of Vray (this is a rendering system which makes your images look real - we call it G.I. or Global Illumination technique). I did the final materials, lighting, camera angles and the other 3d elements. In between, Starcraft and Generals breaks with Mir and Dennis.. Then voila
Monday, October 23, 2006
Etch Us Days Revisited
This song was originally written by Nols and Bing.. didn't really get to notice how poetic the lines were until now. It does sound a bit suicidal.. but that's probably part of the rebellious (and idiotic) side of youth.. you get lost in love's tug-of-war and you'd feel pretty much the same way the song goes.. haha. Nevertheless I found the song cool, much cooler if you would get to listen to the melody - it started out with Sandman-like riffs then eventually ended up with a blues-like groove..
As I drift into my endless sleep
I look up at the spider as it gently weeps
Its web engulfs the neon flames
As I recall my endless shame
Spider on the ceiling
Don't weep for me
I look up at the spider in the air -
As I think of this world which for me hath no care
Spider on the ceiling
Don't weep for me
Slowly but surely I drift into slumber
The spider in confusion looks back at me and wonder
Spider on the ceiling
Don't weep for me
Movie Review - The Prestige
"The Prestige"
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, David Bowie, Scarlett Johansson
Well, one can't help not to. It is quite rare to find a noteworthy movie these days. I got to see "The Departed" a few days ago and being a Scorsese fan the movie didnt falter, but when I discovered it was actually a copy of the original HK version "Infernal Affairs" I was somewhat ticked off..
There are a couple of "stage magic" movies these days. One is "The Illusionist" starring Edward Norton (haven't seen this one yet but it also looks promising). The other is "The Prestige" - a story about 2 rival magicians during the early 20th century. A bitter feud between them sparked a lifelong battle to discover each other's secrets.. The ultimate goal for each magician was to decipher the ultimate trick - that of the "Transported Man". And this is what catapults the movie into a rollercoaster of twists and turns. Just when I thought I figured out what the ending was (my main premise was the disappearing bird on a cage trick), the plot will surprise you with another, more plausible twist. Cool!
Grab your popcorn now. :)