September 19, 2006

  • //What rides on my life...

    There's something about riding a motorcycle that makes my time spent with it satisfying. While I am still figuring things out as a rookie rider, it's probably the sense of open freedom that drives me to crave riding every day. The challenge of mastering a different gear shifting mechanics and habits probably also has something to do with my infatuation as well, especially since a manual transmission car doesn't offer that challenge anymore.
     
    I've managed to racked up 200+ miles on my little Kawasaki Ninja over a week's span, By default, I am starting to get used to getting off the line without stalling or wiggling side by side as I pick up speed. On the other hand, I still find low speed, small radius U-turns uncomfortable. I plan to spare some time over an upcoming weekend to practice the act in a large, empty parking lot.
     
    The riding bug has got me bad. When I choose to stress and commute with it, I get exhausted. When I choose to have an easier time by driving, I come home wanting to ride my bike out... to nowhere. Apparently, I am subconsciously finding the need to stay completely alert, balanced, and alive addictive... why else would I go through spasms just to ride on two wheels?
     
    Morning commute gets a little tough, however, when the rider in me has to fight against the not-so-morning-person in me. One slip on the clutch, throttle/front brake, rear brake or shifter can dictate life and death.
     
    For a brief second this morning, as I accelerated my bike beyond 65mph, I somehow felt my body jumped forward while my life force dropped backward. I immediately slowed down, as if I was waiting for my life to catch up to me.
     
    That must be what it feels like to watch yourself losing your life, literally.
     
    I love crusing on my new bike. Not speeding, fighting against the wind that pushes my head back or down. Riding is fun. But I will give using my bike as a commuting tool more thoughts. My life still needs me to garner achievements.

September 9, 2006

  • //The Reign Man

    Shawn Kemp, one of the most exciting players ever to have played in the NBA, is also the most fearless dunker and defender I've ever seen. But you ignorant, narrow-minded, bandwagon-hopping Lakers fans probably missed out on him anyway. Yeah, you, too, Knicks fans. I didn't forget about you, either, Boston-I-still-live-in-the-Larry-Bird-Celtics-Era fans.
     
    Standing at 6'10, with a record vertical of 48", Kemp was unstoppable. But talent alone wasn't what made him exciting to watch (Hear that, Stromile Swift?). It was his determination to play at both ends of the floor (Hear that, Starbury?) that made him a pain in the ass for his opponents.
     
    As you can see in the video, he dunks on anyone and everyone, and has no problem rubbing in their faces about it. He blocks shots like there's no tomorrow, swatting the ball completely outta the court, leaving no dignity to be salvaged.
     
    That's why he's The Reign Man.
     

September 7, 2006

  • //My Wish List

    I hate trying to organize a birthday get together, because my birthday always falls in the vicinity of Labor Day, where most people, including myself, go outta town. I've heard plenty of stupid friends around me encouraging me to throw a party, and only to flake on me last minute because they had "something better to do." Screw them.

    That's why I am celebrating my birthday late again this year, pushing it all the way to the next weekend so the people that matter can join me to celebrate September 6th... on Sept 15th. If you really want to join me for food (likely all you can eat Korean BBQ) and drink, give me a ring.

    In the meantime, here's my wish list, just in case you want to buy me something. No basketballs because I hand pick mine. No markers or paint because I paint digitally. No picture frames. No toys!

    Wish List:
    - '03 up BMW M3
    - '03 up Honda CBR 600RR
    - Dragon Quest VIII (PS2) - Thanks Miggie!
    - Veronica Mars Season 1 & 2
    - Supernatural Season 1
    - Surface complete series
    - Invasion complete series
    - Motorcycle riding jackets

August 31, 2006

  • //Maybe He Was In Need Of Back To School Supplies...

    So my backpack was stolen out of my car last night. I must say, it was done rather painlessly, considered that the door lock was picked open without shattering the car window. Yes, I 100% locked the car. I double checked it. Everything in the bag is pretty much replaceable: iPod, pencils, MSF Certificate, and the pink slip of my new motorcycle. It's a bit of a drag to get all those things again, and I am probably not going to get the paperwork replaced in time to register the bike under my name on my birthday anymore.

    Life never stop sucking.

August 27, 2006

  • //New Member In The Household

    So....

     

    If you haven't heard the word that I got my M1 license, you probably have been lousy at keeping in touch with me.

     

    So this morning, Charles, my 6'4 brotha from a different motha kindly drove me down to a neighboring town in his Ford F150 to look at, try out, and eventually lugged home my Kawasaki Ninja.

     


    Here's Charles tieing down the bike, keeping me from riding away without riding gears and insurance...

     


    Here's me trying to make a getaway after we got it back to his garage... Matching shirt was not intentional...

     

August 18, 2006

  • //Be The Better Man?!

    You can always tell when someone is jealous of your talent: He picks on you.

    Even way back in high school, fellow students have often asked me to draw posters and flyers for their upcoming plays and events, especially after the word got out that my artwork was being looked at by a few independent comic book publishers. Hell, even my art teacher hopped onto the bandwagon and gave me all these awards during my senior year, after hating my lack of desire in practicing my fine art skills the whole 4 years I was there.

    But no matter where I was or ended up being, there is ALWAYS that one person, that ONE person, who would say crap about my work with comments that weren't anywhere near constructive:

    "Why do you people like Henry's work?! He's just drawing [someone else's characters]!?" (Be that Alice In Wonderland or Death Of A Salesman)

    Great observation. He might as well put down the whole idea of theatrical plays, since all the actors were "just" playing somebody else.

    Of course, upon hearing his comments, I just smiled at him. And of course, being the better man and taking the high road gets nowhere with bastards like him.

    On one particular occasion, my participation in extracurricular activities had cut into the time slot of my English class. Even though the tardiness was excused, it gave that son of a whore the opportunity to take a low blow at me. The class was in the middle of writing a short analysis of a novel we were reading. I walked in at the end of the session. Naturally, having lesser time, I didn't progress as far as most of my classmates on the analytical writing before **DRUM ROLL** we had to pass our writings among each others and critique each others?work.

    While most of my classmates focused on the content I have written, one critique, not to my surprise, read like the following:

    "Had Henry spend more time writing instead of drawing, this would've been a better paper."


    Yeah, thanks. But what does this have to do with the content of the writing I have? NOTHING.

    Like so many that before and after him, he used an excuse to take a shot at me personally. People like him tend to ignore reasons and put people down, just for cheap satisfaction. If these people actually have any real skills, my work would always be evaluated objectively as the work itself. But when someone tells you that you can do better if you do this-and-that outside of the work in question, you can tell them to kiss your ass because he obviously can't offer any suggestion within the proper parameters.

    "Can you do better?!" A classmate defended me.

    "Yeah. If I can draw like [Henry]."


    I finally broke silent: "So... you can't draw, meaning you can't do better. You have no ability to evaluate my work for what it is. But you can't stand the fact that my work puts me in the spotlight and got me all these attention, so you find other ways to attack me?! Kiss my ass."


    That was the end of his trash talking about my work when we have class together.

    Remember all that "be the better man and walk away" crap you read in the books when you were a kid? If you still believe in it, drop it now. Bullies don't learn their lesson when you just let them walk.

August 15, 2006

  • //Different Grounds. Same Fight

    My buddy, David Chen, has been an actor in Taiwan for many years. Like me, he has had success from time to time with ventures. But most of the time, it's about what is available in the market for him as a performer, not what he actually can do. David is a very talent singer and composer. Unfortunately, he has been stuck being a pop idol because of his good looks.

    Taiwan's own entertainment market is predominantly supported by teenage girls. With severe (and superior) competitions from tv shows imported from Japan and Korea, Taiwanese tv stations, not unlike other businesses in the country, chose to make short term profit as opposed to long term. It means that the tv stations or record labels do not develop or cultivate their singers and actors to evolve beyond what they can offer in the present.

    No actors (unless you're Jacky Chan) can be a pop idol forever. Chances are we all grow older and look less prettier as time goes by. But if the very industry that needs these performers to make money don't invest the time and money to expand them beyond pretty faces, what chance do they have against import shows that gets better and better each year?

    Here's David's music video. He's good. And I've heard him sound even better.

    Here's what David had me sketch for his friend, who is also a popular entertainer in Taiwan:
    >>> Pinky Pink's Playground <<<

August 10, 2006

August 7, 2006

  • //Nickelodeon Avatar

    The good news is that the art team for the Avatar project in Nickelodeon New York really likes my work, or so I was told. After reviewing my sample concept sketches, they found my artwork dynamic and very strong, and told me that my artwork is a good fit the property.

    That's good to know. And what I've seen of the Avatar property so far, it's definitely something I would love to work on.

    But...

    ...As with all entertainment property, the availability of projects depends on the approval of projects. While the NickNY team was enthusiastic about jumping onto the numerous projects that are related to the Avatar show, the "budget people" came into the picture.

    Nothing outta my expectation, since I've worked in the entertainment industry long enough to know what ultimately binds an opportunity. I've been around long enough to not hold too much faith in anyone besides myself. Yeah, I am being negative. But people who complain about me feeling such way never realize that they haven't done anything to make me feel confident about them. I am realistic, honest and objective. Then again, I don't know too many people that likes to hear the truth.

    But hey, like I said: At least my artwork is good enough to be on top of NickNY's artist list.

    Avatar (c)2006 Nickelodeon

August 3, 2006







  • Your Birthdate: September 6



    You tend to be a the rock in relationships - people depend on you.
    Thoughtful and caring, you often put others needs first.
    You aren't content to help those you know... you want to give to the world.
    An idealist, you strive for positive change and dream about how much better things could be.
    Your strength: Your intuition
    Your weakness: You put yourself last
    Your power color: Rose
    Your power symbol: Cloud
    Your power month: June

    What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

    "You aren't content to help those you know... you want to give to the world."
    TRANSLATION: I can't just mind my own business when I see something not done right.

    "An idealist, you strive for positive change and dream about how much better things could be."
    TRANSLATION: I am hard to please.