Halloween.

Advertising Written All Over

Design Book by Adrian Shaughnessy: $19.95
Large Hazelnut Coffee at SFSU: $1.50
Super slacking on studying for a physics test tomorrow but instead wandering around the campus, wasting precious time, and purchasing stuff...PRICELESS

For everything else there's Mastercard...Because VISA is no longer accepted at SFSU (Go ask the Registrar!)

The sleeve of the coffee cup:
GRAB THIS CUP.
LIFT IT.
EXCELLENT.
You're strong enough to be on the Poker Team.
A college sport for the rest of us.
collegepoker.com/coffee

pretty catchy eh. Well, I thought so.

Design Networking Group

I just started a "by strict invitation only" design networking group on Myspace. SFDESIGNCULTURE
http://groups.myspace.com/sfdesignculture
Contact me for more details...

Acapella : Rockapella

currently listening to: Rockapella's "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony"

I just discovered Rockapella's music about 2 weeks ago and I'm still flabbergasted by how extremely melodic their voices are. I say gone were the days when music solely functions under the authenticity of the singers' voices and tonal qualities. It's great to look back once in a while and take a break from all these industrial sounds, techno rhythms, and lip synced performances.

here's an excerpt from their Official Website:
"Long ago and far away in Providence, Rhode Island, a few young men began something which over the next decade would build from a collegiate hobby into a national phenomenon... Often imitated; never duplicated, this certifiably unique pop musical group has taken the previously stodgy music genre of a cappella and brought it full-force into the 21st century. Their story is like no other, and they create a sound and impression like no one else!

On a different note,
This sunday will be productive; I spoke of wanting balance, about time I act on it.

Givenchy is the New Varvatos.

The new cologne I got at Sephora:

GIVENCHY (BLUE LABEL):

"In the tradition of true Givenchy style, the new Givenchy Pour Homme Blue Label fragrance is an aromatic homage to the traditional gentleman, reinterpreted for the modern man of action. Blue Label embodies the energy, style and attitude of today's man. An invigorating cocktail of fresh citrus opens into luminous aerial and aquatic notes. Vibrant spices and masculine woods bring out sweet, comfortable undertones. Cool. Dynamic. Sensual. Notes include Bergamot, Hedione, Grapefruit, Tangerine, Pepper, Davana, Cardamom, Oliban Wood, Cedar Wood, Vetiver."

The Friday That Was Never Meant To Happen.

playlist: Matchbox 20's "Mad Season"

I screwed myself yesterday...

...well kinda, sorta. I woke up 10 minutes before my first class starts so I was frantic once again. As I rush through the campus trying not to be late, I realized that it happened again...I told myself the night before (as I usually do) that i'm just going to take a 30-min. nap, get back to my project, finish it, and work on my Physics write-up; I ended up oversleeping...and "unaccomplished". It's moments like these that I question why i'm having such a hard time with academia. I was telling my roommate how I don't mind going to class, participating and such, yet the very act of "doing homework" comes naturally difficult for me. These things throws me off balance...to the point where i'm so close to falling in the water and drowning. well kinda, sorta.

so I ended up not going to design class because I don't have anything to present. The stresses from the last book project still insanely lingers so I never really had the energy to start and ideate for a new one...but i'm well aware that I NEED TO, not just for the grade, but for my design career in general. If I want to be the best designer there is, I have to form productive habits and keep at it...keep at it no matter what.

I went to Japantown with Alvin. I jokingly told Norman that I needed to go to a Zen Garden at J-town and reflect on the stresses of the week. Laugher all around; deep inside, i'm partly serious...I do feel like I needed to meditate...to seriouslly assess why things are fallling apart right in front of me. ON THE LIGHTER THINGS, J-town is always amazing...the tranquility and calm atmosphere is perfect for such a gloomy, cold weather. We spent most of our time at Nijiya Market; Alvin deciding which Gatsby product is better for his hair (matte or superhold) and me deciding which junkfood to buy...ahh! the good things in life...junkfood and hair products. I spent about $30 so so on food...J-town's kinda expensive but I think it's worth it (see picture of some of the stuff I bought). After grocery shopping, we head to a J.restaurant had some J.food and had a Juper Jawesome Jime Jeating. MISO SOUP IS THE SHIT!...

after J-town we head back to the dorms, fixed my hair some more...headed to Club Dragon with Alvin, Jason, and Ricky and I'm officially back in the "meat market," after a brief hiatus. I saw a couple of familiar faces and a whole lot of unfamiliar ones, it's hard loosening up w/o my friend Alcohol to accompany me...hehehe. It was a pretty good night though...Then right after, went to IHOP at DC, met with Thomas, had some Sampler Combo, and drove back to SFSU.

Drained. Doomed. Dead.
well kinda, sorta.

I'm Thuper!

currently listening to Arkarna: The Future Overrated

This is me as a South Park fella. Yeah I get icky when people touch my hair, I didn't style it for a couple of hours for nothing (joke). Mind your own hair people. The "I'm Thuper" shirt speaks to my ego! I'm just EFFIN THUPER! Oober cute. hahaha.

Sugar-Coated Darkness

currently listening to Kitchie Nadal's "Same Ground (Acoustic)"

So I got a letter from Cingular informing me that i'm now eligible for a phone upgrade (what a suck ass marketing scheme...basically means that in order for me to take advantage of the 'proposed' upgrade, I have to renew my already existing 2-year contract which is expiring in a couple of months...i say NO!)

moving on...
I can talk shit about Cingular all day but i'd rather focus on the imagery of the black envelope. I have to admit, the black envelop they used for their marketing scheme was quite scrumptious...as yummy as the chocolate chip cookie i'm consuming right now...yes indeed. I think this brought up a very good point in design: that the "unexpected" reigns supreme if the goal of the design is to capture people's attention. When one thinks of Cingular, the usual association is with its color; the fascinating thing about it though was that by purely extracting the object of its most inherent characteristic, which in this case is the color orange, we are able to see possibilities in form. Hence, design education's push for logos/logotypes that can work well and transfer as black and white. Good Form Equals Good Gestalt; Black is just effin UNIVERSAL and way cool...something about the effects of a less saturated, white type on black background; a simple play on positive-negative image that works well. Props to Cingular's innovative attempt...but that's about it.

The Meaning of LOVE

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore, so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

Rebecca- age 8

YES INDEED!

yesterday oh yesterday...

It was a wild day yesterday, just when I thought things couldn't get more complicated...they did.

There's something about the design of the coffee lid that doesn't function right. Whenever I buy coffee and drink it, it always ends up drippin' on my shirt or whatever is within close radius. The thing leaks from the inside out...not just one but all of them. By the end of Physics class, I accidentally tripped on the coffee causing massive overflow on SCI 101...geez dude...I just had to make that sudden escape...it was a total guilt trip.

I've been working on this book project for Design class since friday night. I basically locked myself in the room and forced "work time"...if I didn't, I would've procrastinated again...doing a half-ass job in production. I had the main project panels printed at Rapid SFSU for $40...kinda pricey but oh well...dimensions: 24 X 36 on high glossy paper; too bad they don't do double-sided printing. The overall design was painstakingly effective (pics soon to follow)...

So I got back from the printer around 3pm. I was all freaked out thinking i'm an hour late for my Colloquium class, debating constantly on whether or not I should still go in...I checked my schedule and soon realized that the class was not at 2pm but that it starts at 4....arrgghh...I GOT MYSELF STRAIGHT TRIPPIN' BOO!

Must be the coffee...must be the coffee...

Think "Inside" The Box

Got back my Box Project for Adv. Design last friday (see my September 13 ramblings). I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome but then again, I always feel like I can push it much further...I'm happy to say that this box is going in my portfolio...woo woo!

Additional initial requirements:
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX: surface.superficiality.type/stereotype.labels.first impressions.style.assumptions.profiling
INSIDE THE BOX: reality.history.complexity.depth/dimension.breadth.tradition.revealing.essence

Acoustic and Porcelain

The Acoustic-driven Rock Band Reserved 16 performed at the Village Courtyard last tuesday. Their music is quite refreshing...especially under the sun. Total break from the chaos that is San Francisco State. They did one rendition of a Coldplay original...good stuff, good times.

Official Website: Reserved 16
Reserved 16 on Myspace
Reserved 16 on PureVolume

I also hit up SFMOMA and the Asian Art Museum the same day with a couple of dorm people...then Norman, Joey and I went for Mediterranean food at Gyros right after...

BLUR 525

currently listening to the sound of fog and cold air here at state...

Everything is a blur.

I cooked tonight...Sausages (in sundried Tomatoes, black Olives and feta Cheese), Crimini Mushrooms, carmelized Onions, Basil, white Rice and a glass of Carrot Juice....Move over Tyler Florence, I'm taking over the kitchen.
Weekend was so so...was hanging out with Alvin 'round dowtown SF, friday night...window shopping as always, fun times (see pictures of Energie and Zara); Saturday was painful...literally...went to TJ's and bought food for stock up: 7 huge bags, 3 of which ripped open and all of which I had to personally drag for a torturous 2 hours considering I couldn't carry all 7 at one time...arrghh...I'm still aching...really bad...Sunday...hmm...I don't remember what happened yesterday...BLUR.