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August 31, 2004

Cold Out There

We sat on the concrete steps, staring out into the water. It was dark, and we couldn't see much, but the city skyline across the bay reflected a brilliant rippling fireworks display. It was also chilly, and we held on tightly to each other, but said nothing, letting the crashes of the distant waves do the talking for us...

Posted by Charlie at 11:58 PM | Comments (0)

A Four Day Recess

It's amazing how much things can change in a short period. According to Christian belief the world was created in seven days. Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase treaty literally doubled the size of this country overnight. These past four days will seem like nothing more than a passing memory of one of Seattle's last sunny weekends to most people. As for me, however, I beg to differ.

MANPLUS' first concert since that dreadful night at the Beacon Pub was last Thursday. We were all better prepared this time around. After that disaster concert the four of us were on major paranoia alert. For three weeks we practiced, took and compared notes, and double-checked all of our equipment to make sure everything was in working order. The Stranger gave us their coveted star recommendation; we were elated.

And you what? We kicked ass. I'm so proud of us. We had to cut our setlist by a few songs, but it was all good. The icing on the cake was, of course, our friends who came out to support us, especially one in particular who flew all the way from California.

T came up to spend his last few days of freedom before going back to school. His stay was short, but luckily the skies were able to clear up for most of the time he was here. It would be bad to send him back to Berkeley with a bad impression of Seattle. I think I accomplished my job. Save for the Seattle Center we didn't go to many places considered 'touristy.' I took him to some of my personal favorite places in Seattle and introduced him to some of my weirder friends.

Andrew rented a car for us to drive to Vancouver for the day; I haven't been back there since before I turned 21. It's relieving to know that I still know my way around downtown somewhat. Vancouver is looking more and more like Hong Kong these days, with their condo highrises and their shopping meccas. People here are more conscious of their visual aesthetics than people in Seattle, I've noticed. Asian girls on average are taller here too! What is up with that?

Marty Pants' Banana Binging Bonanza was this Sunday. Five teams of two compete to eat as many bananas as possible within the span of an hour - aka - a free opportunity to see ten people wretch all over themselves. Who wouldn't want to miss that?! Luckily I didn't compete - it would take me less than half a banana before my gag relex goes into overdrive. But ten unlucky souls did, and it was up to Booga and I to keep them entertained for that hour.

We caught a showing of Zhang Yimou's Hero. It was shot beautifully, but I think they overdid the special effects somewhat. Maggie Cheung though. Man, she kicked ass. Zhang Ziyi was once again typecasted as the under experienced brat. Poor girl. Let's hope she has more screen presence in Memoirs of a Geisha.

The weekend concluded with me playing juvenille delinquent at the International Hostel. Good times.

In unrelated news but capping this whirlwind of a weekend, Alessandro of the design house Morgan d'Alessandro emailed me personally to thank me for being a fan! I love their clothing - wonderful cuts and blends.

I'm just on one high after another.

Posted by Charlie at 03:00 PM | Comments (1)

August 23, 2004

Diesel's Coming To Town

Diesel is finally opening up a store in downtown Seattle after three years of delay. I should be excited because I was a fan since, well, silver pants were all the rage. Diesel's clothes used to be rebellious in concept, design, and execution. I mean, what other jeans company would publicly state that the pants pockets in men's jeans were designed especially for easy access to "adjust oneself?"

But over the past several years, I think, Diesel has slowly been losing its edge as it begins to permeate into mass culture. The "For Successful Living" campaign is not as uncompromising as it used to be. Star designer J Lindeberg has left the company and started his own line. Kids all over Asia sport fake Diesel shirts and jeans. Even the suburban paradise of Bellevue has its own boutique of Diesel attire.

Can Diesel gain back its competitive edge? Certainly, if it completely abandons its targeted consumer demographic and begins marketing towards an entirely different niche (much like Banana Republic's strategy back in the mid-90's). But there's too much at stake. Diesel is becoming ever more mainstream; although it's been around for twenty-something years it's still gaining threshold in American households.

I still like Diesel, I do. Their jeans rock. Their cuts fit my svelte frame very nicely. I sport their green fannypack like nobody else's business. I'll always be a Diesel slut, only this time I'll soon be one of thousands of Diesel sluts in Seattle.

Posted by Charlie at 03:40 PM | Comments (1)

Scissor Sisters

Posted by Charlie at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)

August 22, 2004

My Past Lives

I love to write, especially if the subject at hand is myself. :) For seven years now my meanderings of daily life have been documented via a series of scrapbooks, posters, Word documents, artwork, and now online journals. I have them all stored somewhere, but I have yet to actually read them. I'm not usually the type of person who likes to reminisce his past; I'm much more of a Let's-See-What-The-Future-Holds kinda guy.

But on this particularly low Sunday afternoon I went through an old journal from my Freshmen year at UW. I think it was the first time I actually sat down and read it. I became nostalgic from reading about this younger version of myself as he labored through trivial tribulations of school and work. All the memories are flooding back to me now: my huge crush in Psych 101 who came out of the closet after breaking up with his girlfriend and became this huge potato queen; my utter amazement at Catalina's interest in me; all-nighters with Michelle and early morning breakfasts at IHOP; spending weekends watching Sex and the City and porn with Shane.

I'm amazed at how honest and open I was back then; there was a no-holds barred outpouring of emotion and rawness in these pages. As I become increasingly self-aware and experienced in life, however, I find it more difficult to convey these feelings. Everything that I write down is permanent, final. Memories fade, but words do not. I remember during a particularly dark period of my life. Oanh spyed my journal, then in the form of a canvas. Before I could stop her she was reading minute details of my deepest feelings. I was naked, emotionally, and I think that was the first time I ever let anyone see the real me, albeit inadventantly so.

Now that I have an online public audience to consider when writing these entries I realize that I'm going to have to be exceptionally brave if I want to be honest with my feelings. I want to be as veracious as that awkward teenager five years ago.

Posted by Charlie at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)

ILovePIX

Hmmmm... not so sure about this one. The PIX looks really cool. I would totally use it as a clock or refrigerator memo or something. I would not, however, strap it on my arm and walk down the street while "LOVE" is perpetually flashing on its LCD screen. Nice try, Xenofreaks, but the rave scene was over years ago. And what's with the gun? (Girl, second from right) Looks like someone needs to hire a new advertising and PR firm.

Posted by Charlie at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)

August 20, 2004

Memoirs of a Geisha

The highly anticipated film adaptation to Arthur Golden's seminal novel finally has its Sayuri, and she's not Japanese. The Chinese actress who made flying through bamboo groves all the rage back in 2001, Zhang Ziyi is not considered - to me at least - as the best choice to play the role of a girl known for her gray eyes. First of all, Ziyi's not Japanese! She probably doesn't even know any Japanese words except for konnichiwa, sayounara, and katsukaree. And she probably says them in the same manner as all those Japanese Americans who pretend to know proper Japanese pronunciation but end up saying like a Texan ordering at a restaurant. Ugh. I can't stand anymore Taiko shows.

Anyway. And they casted Michelle Yeoh to play the role of Mameha! Michelle Yeoh's not Japanese, she's Malaysian! And doesn't Mameha have a face like a snow peach, or something? Why couldn't they actually cast someone who was - *gasp* - Japanese! Someone like Yuuki Kudo, Kanako Higuchi, or Yusuke Iseya dressed up in drag or something?

We need to represent.

Posted by Charlie at 02:47 PM | Comments (3)

August 19, 2004

The International Examiner

Okay, so I finally had a chance to read the article that Andrew wrote about the Community MAP Project way back in... May, was it? I can't remember. Anyway, not only do I have photo credits on this article, but I'm quoted in there as well: "It was very encouraging to see the amount of support for this crucial project, and its potential affect on the community."

Huh? I don't remember saying that. Hmmmm... I might have said something more in the lines of this: "MAVIN rocks. Free food. Let's get drunk!!! Woo hoo!!!"

I think it was wise of Andrew to paraphrase my comment.

Posted by Charlie at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)

August 17, 2004

Best of Craigslist

Uh Oh. Looks like Craigslist has updated their Best-Of again.

Posted by Charlie at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 16, 2004

Trivial Matters

Holy crap I just spent $50 on a bottle of French champagne and I was only able to drink half a glass! So we moved to our new digs last weekend. The old office was not even half the size of this new place, and I like it. I especially like it because 1846 and I are situated away from everyone, giving us plenty of opportunity to bitch over AIM with each other. And it happens often, believe me. We recently hired a new sap to work for us - but he's been here a week and I still don't know what he was hired for. 1846 and I are left scratching our heads because the only thing he's been accomplishing thus far is just posing and looking pretty. Fine by me.

I was placed in charge of putting together a little celebration in lieu of our recent move and launch of the website, and stupid me - I jet off and bought $50 worth of champagne without even checking the price tag. When I finally looked at my receipt and gawked at the total, I had every chance to go back into the liquor store and ask for a refund, but no, I was more concerned about saving face and so I walked back to the office with my tail behind my legs. Oh well. At least I can expense it. Charlie's on a budget afterall.

I had to go to design class so I was only able to force down half a glass before taking off. I had a really nice buzz by the time I ran into Nick, who informed me that he was moving out to Manhattan with his partner in November. Talking to him made me reminisce about the mischief we got into at the dorms. Good times...

Posted by Charlie at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)

August 15, 2004

She's Got A New Microphone

Asia's biggest pop star's much-anticipated English release is almost upon us, and you'll probably see me first in line at the record store. Her beats are seriously wicked killer, but man... her lyrics... they send shivers up my spine, and not in a good way. Take a gander at this line:

You're Easy Breezy and I'm Japa-neezy...

Dat so cheezy! Brings me back to the good ol' days when her first Japanese album came out. Good God were her lyrics baaad. I love Utada Hikaru though, and you know I'm going to be singing her god-awful lyrics from here to eternity.

You're Easy Breezy and I'm Japa-neezy...

Posted by Charlie at 07:30 PM | Comments (1)

August 14, 2004

Instruments Are So Over

And I have to agree with that comment, after hearing snippets of Bjork's latest album. This woman is a genius, I tell you. She defies the very makeup that makes our pop culture, cultivating ideologies, music, and fashion statements that make us stop and reassess our values. A true slave to her art, and yet in control of every aspect of it.

Posted by Charlie at 03:24 PM | Comments (0)

Pollution

This is an old typographic piece I did about a year ago. I'm a little fond of this piece because I created it entirely without the use of a computer - just the services of a copying machine and some glue.

Posted by Charlie at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)

August 12, 2004

My Samsung P107

It's not the best cameraphone out on the market - South Korea already has a 3-Megapixel cameraphone - but I love my Samsung P107. I've been taking pictures, but mainly out of amusement and boredom. Of course most of the pictures are of myself.

Posted by Charlie at 07:02 PM | Comments (0)

A Financial Cul-de-Sac

Ouch. I received my credit card balance today, and it wasn't pretty. As a matter of fact, it's just as ugly as the French artist Orlan, which would be a very flattering comment considering her line of work. And to add further insult to my monetary woes, my credit card company decides to raise my credit limit another thousand dollars. Great. Charlie's taking a social hiatus for the next few weeks. My credit cards are going back into my safe deposit box.

Speaking of French artists, selected pieces from the Kröller-Müller Museum are now showing at the SAM, and in their collection is my all-time favorite Redon piece!

Such a beautiful piece. I love atmospheric constrast created from the tranquil color scheme and the hideous eye. This Redon piece has greatly influenced my fascination with eyes in my artwork way back when. Maybe when I have time I'll take pictures of my eyeball sculptures from my design classes and post them up on this site. My passion for eyes has been further instilled with Murakami's introduction to the art scene, but alas, he has effectively killed it when he paired up with Marc Jacobs last year.

Speaking of fashion icons, the good folks at is-ness have me under their radar! It's nice to know that people are visiting this site. All I need now is a JAS-MB boutique near my home and I can die happy.

But first I must try to get out of the red. Someone's going home sober tonight!

Oh wait. My boss just told be that one of our services is launching today - aka - time to break out the champagne!

Posted by Charlie at 11:45 AM | Comments (0)

August 11, 2004

The Power of AIM

I love AIM. I don't want to mention any names, but bitching about mutual coworkers over AIM has made my days here at work go by much faster. It's a great friendship builder. Maybe I'll invite - let's call this person 1846 - maybe I'll invite 1846 out for drinks are something.

Posted by Charlie at 05:27 PM | Comments (0)

August 10, 2004

New York In The Wintertime???

Ms. Alicia (pictured below winning the pullups contest, with help courtesy of Booga Struthers) has extended an invitation for me to live with her in her fabulous Brooklyn brownstone. I'm awfully tempted to accept this offer because, you know, who wouldn't want to live in a house that has an antique chandelier in the bathroom?! But the lease starts in November, which wouldn't give me enough time to save enough money to float in New York for six months without a job. Hmmmm. *taps forehead with fingers, trying desperately to think*

P.S. - in related news, SueJeanA has gotten herself a job after being in Manhattan for less than a week! Congrats. It's supposedly some office job, but the fact that there is a full bar in the office more than makes up for its shortcomings. Those New Yorkers, always one step ahead of us! And we just have a pool table...

Posted by Charlie at 11:40 AM | Comments (0)

August 08, 2004

Jared's Housewarming Party

As it goes with most parties these days, I was the first to arrive and the last to leave Jared's housewarming party last Saturday.

A debaucherious night filled with memorable photographs to showcase.

Watching creepy Cronenberg movies, playing old-school Nintendo games, discussions of racial backgrounds, and sweet phone calls were the highlights of the night. Booga saw someone taking a nap in Jared's bed and decided to go spoon him. Boy was she in for a rude surprise. I do remember us driving back to the party after Linda's to a quiet house and making Jared and Ellen stay up another hour watching us dance and eat hummus... or something.

Posted by Charlie at 05:48 PM | Comments (1)

August 06, 2004

Another Listless Friday

Warning: This post is not going to be of any interest to those who accidentally come across this site, so feel free to skip past this. I'm going to start rambling.

Ty's coming up to visit at the end of this month, which is awesome. I cannot wait to play the role of dorky Seattle tourist with him. I finally booked a flight to the Bay Area a few days ago, and will be playing the role of dorky Sunnyvale tourist with my Irish cousins.

Ireneo is finally moving back to Seattle, which is also awesome. I cannot wait to ride in shopping carts down Pike with him again. Although this time he'll be riding with a stack of dissertations to hand out to people. What an over-achiever.

I am greatly anticipating Mr. Pants Hernandez's Banana Bonanza Eating Contest. I am not going to miss watching a dozen people vomit banana for the world. His friend Karen knows my friend Ireneo...? Small world.

Okay, I just caught myself using my cellphone's camera as a sort of pseudo-compact mirror to fix my hair. Ahh, the wonders of modern technology, cultivating the vainness in all of us. I think I need a haircut.

This is what happens when you're stuck in from of a computer 8 hours a day with nothing to do. *exhales* Whew, I'm done now. You can all go back to whatever you're doing.

Posted by Charlie at 03:04 PM | Comments (0)

August 05, 2004

Signed & Sealed

I'm in desperate need of a vacation. Desperate. Need. Of a vacation.

Posted by Charlie at 11:33 AM | Comments (1)

August 04, 2004

Arrivederci

SueJeanA is joining the legion of hopefuls and traveling to the city known as the Big Apple to fulfill her dreams of success and stardom, or whatever fancies her. I would start reminiscing on all the good times we've had - like that one time we got drunk, and that other time getting drunk, oh and that one time last year we got totally drunk - but I'm just too busy to start feeling sentimental. Ahhh, good times. All I have to say is that she had better still be there once I'm transplanted in New York City next June! Oh, that reminds me of that one we got so trashed last January...

Posted by Charlie at 08:26 PM | Comments (0)

August 03, 2004

The Annals of Design

Jesse LeDoux and Jeff Kleinsmith kick ass, they really do. Having designed literally hundreds of posters for such music artists as Sigur Ros, The Shins, Modest Mouse, Cat Power, Postal Service, these guys have the coolest jobs in the world.

Posted by Charlie at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2004

10 CDs Down, 490 To Go

My love/hate relationship with Sony continues today with the purchase of a new DVD burner, the DRX-700UL. The design of this beauty is just uber-fabulous. I love it! It's been a slow ongoing process, but I'm currently converting my music collection into MP3s so I can burn them onto DVD. After moving many boxes containing Jared's 3000+ CD collection yesterday, I figure it'll be a minor investment in the long run.

Posted by Charlie at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)

Weekend Odysseys

Jared and Ellen finally moved out of their hellhole of a house yesterday, concluding a dark chapter in their lives that included a refrigerator that smelled like dead carcass and the world's most annoying roommate. Their new place is a cute, small one-story with hardwood floors and a quiet backyard. And it's conveniently located close to Ireneo's house!

Posted by Charlie at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)