The Boxcutters: A Wasteland for the Wild, the Wicked, and the Weird

“The Boxcutters” (www.theboxcutters.wordpress.com) is a blog dedicated to those brave enough to live life according to their own rules. Here’s what ‘The Boxcutters’ is all about: Graffiti artist Banksy once said, “Think from outside the box, collapse it, and take a fucking knife to it.”  We at Boxcutters are fueled by a desire to break [...]

Into the Valley of the “Vigo”

Crank up the “Vigo” Volume Challenging mainstream musical conventions, Vigo combines jazz, rock, traditional pinoy balladry (kundiman), modern beats, and a dash of folk to create their own unique sound. With each artist having already forged their own reputations in the Manila soundscape, Vigo is more than just your run-of-the-mill garage band. Vigo is a [...]

A Heritage of Smallness by Nick Joaquin

“Society for the Filipino is a small rowboat: the barangay. Geography for the Filipino is a small locality: the barrio. History for the Filipino is a small vague saying: matanda pa kay mahoma; noong peacetime. Enterprise for the Filipino is a small stall: the sari-sari. Industry and production for the Filipino are the small immediate searchings of each day: isang kahig, isang tuka. And commerce for the Filipino is the smallest degree of retail: the tingi.”

Friday Finds to Get You Through This Complex Sphere of Life, 05/07/2010

Another long weekend? Yessirreeee, Ronald McBebot! The Philippine election season is coming to a head. Filipinos will decide on the future leader of the country on May 10, 2010. Well, IF their votes actually get counted, that is. (And yes, people would say I’m cynical…but I say, I’m realistic.) As each day passes, the candidates [...]

Friday Finds to Get You Through This Complex Sphere of Life (04/30/10)

Wohoo! Welcome to another long weekend. “Dancers Among Us” by Jordan Matter (“Photographer Jordan Matter took still frames of dancers from the Paul Taylor and Martha Graham Dance Companies performing interesting moves all around New York City.” via NBCNY ) Tomorrow is May 1. The date close to my heart. It’s the day I fell [...]

Video Nights, Global Insights: Dissecting and Digesting Pico Iyer’s Video Night in Kathmandu

Pico Iyer’s Video Night in Kathmandu is a collection of essays on the evolving landscape of Asia. Veering away from the all-too-common colonial perspective, Iyer’s work dissects the cross-cultural relationship between the East and the West. His forays into Bali, Tibet, Nepal, China, The Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Hong Kong, India, Thailand and Japan bring [...]

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

Trainspotting by Scottish writer Irvine Welsh is a cult classic. The novel’s fast-paced storytelling, innovative form, and exploration into the dark underworld of drugs and debauchery has made it the subject of both outrage and acclaim. From its experimental form to its controversial theme, the book epitomizes the idea of rebellion. Divided into seven sections, [...]

Friday Finds to Get You Through this Complex Sphere of Life

Well, hellloooooooooooo there…….. (pornstache photo via www.latfh.com) Watch Homer’s life flash before your very eyes with this video — PICTURE A DAY FOR 39 YEARS. Join the battle for the MOST AWESOMEST THING EVER!!! (And no, that wasn’t a typo.) You can also kick your favorite videos into Mortal Combat…yes, it’s a waste of time. [...]

Brand Spankin’ New Travel Video/Slideshow

Nothing brings back good travel memories than good music and re-discovering some old photos… Featured locations: Morocco, Berlin, Cape Town, San Francisco, the Philippines, Rome, Paris….and an iron bird flying above the clouds. *All photos were taken by Michaela Lola Abrera (that’s me!) and the song is called “Postcards from Italy” by Beirut. Check out [...]

The Eternal Sunshine of Mark Ruffalo’s Underwear

Erased by Anna Akhmatova

Seaside gusts of wind,
And a house in which we don’t live,
And the shadow of a cherished cedar
In front of a forbidden window…
Perhaps there is someone in this world
To whom I could send all these lines. Well then!
Let the lips smile bitterly
And a tremor touch the heart again.