Ithaca?

I recently took a short vacation (like one day kind of short) in Ithaca. To be honest, I don't like the town of Ithaca very much. It is, well, bleak. Some may call it quiet and peaceful, but I think it is rather dull. I think dead may be a better word. Doesn't anyone in that town talk above a whisper or move faster than a snail? The most lively person I saw is a statue. The only cheerful part around Ithaca is a college campus that make you feel as if you just stepped into a story book. The blossoming trees and green grass surrounding stone and brick buildings under the sun are beautiful. In conclusion, like any town, there are ups and downs in Ithaca.

The sky is really blue...

Swan Lake

I don't consider myself the biggest fan of music. There exists a few good pieces that I like or use as space filler, but my iPod is basically a dust-attractor. But if I have to choose a genre of music that I like, then I would pick classical music. Strange? Some people tell me "yes, it's strange that you like classical music." Okay, so classical music is not the most popular music around anymore, but I think that, in general, classical music is definitely the best music around. After all, somethings do not stay around for centuries unless people see great value in them. Not long ago, Google features a doodle tribute to Tchaikovsky depicting a scene from a ballet. A spark went off in my head! One of my favorite band is 12 Girls Band (女子十二楽坊), which consists of...12 girls. They are a Chinese music group performing instrumental music on traditional Chinese instruments. Aside from traditional Chinese music, they also play western music and popular songs. Thus, the connection to Tchaikovsky is formed.

May I present: the 12 Girls Band performing Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake!

Sketch of Fancy

I really want to be on a drawing spree, I really do. However, there are still a few things that I must take care of before I can do so (this blog is one of them). I did start a couple of projects that I WILL finish, and here is one of them. It is a work in progress. The original picture is a photograph of a cosplayer (someone who dresses up like an anime/manga character) posed as Yoite from Nabari no Ou. Cosplayers basically bring a character from the paper into the real world. Thus, I want to take the character back to paper.

Original

My work in progress done in color pencil

I shall continue this and post the finished product. I hope that will happen soon.

Oh, Rainy Days...

It has been raining for the last few days (with days of intense sunlight and heat in between), which remained me of a post from some times ago. In that post, I introduced a song about the rain (or was it rainbows?). Either way, these rainy days drew me back to a piece of music that I have not listened to for some time. So, I pulled up YouTube and played this beautiful piece called "Kiss the Rain," by the Korean composer and pianist Yiruma. Words cannot describe the perfect tranquility of this sound. Thus, rather than I ramble on about it, just listen to the sound of rain.

Pottery

Recently, I had my first encounter with pottery making. While messy (clay, clay everywhere), it was quite enjoyable. Of course, as an inexperienced novice, making objects on the wheel was (still is) quite challenging. During that short time of pottery making, I gained a new hobby: watching other people make potteries. Surprisingly, it was very soothing (I thought it was going to be dull), especially when I am watching experts at work. Thus, I search YouTube (it seems I'm on there all the time) for master potters. I was not disappointed and below are two clips. One is of the legendary pottery maker Hamada Shoji and the other is a more recent clip of someone making a teapot (it inspired me to make a tiny, hand-sculpted tea set). 

Hamada Shoji

Almost instructional video on teapot making

I can't stop watching; must see more. I wish I had more time with pottery making, then again, don't we all wish we had more time with one thing or another.

Duck, Duck, and More Ducks!

Courtesy of http://www.schemamag.ca/archive2/images/pekingduck1.jpg

(Ironically, this is from an article about the UK banning the oven for cooking the ducks.

No oven = no ducks)

My favorite dish award goes to the best dish on Earth: the Peking Duck (北京烤鸭). This centuries old dish originated from imperial times in China and remains a favorite today, for good reasons too. Premium duck roasted over a live flame creates the perfectly crispy skin and juice meat. After it leaves the oven, the duck is skillfully cut into thin slices with skin and meat. It is eaten with thin pancakes (more like paper thin flat breads), spring onions, and hoisin sauce. The best place to enjoy this dish is, of course, in its native home in Beijing (used to be called Peking, hence Peking Duck). Two restaurants famous for their delicious duck are Quanjude and Bianyifang, so be sure to visit if you are ever in Beijing. You won't be disappointed. Yummy!!

Yoshinoya Yumminess!!

Courtesy of www.yoshinoya.com

One of the best fast food restaurants is Yoshinoya. No, I lied, it is the best. Yoshinoya (吉野家) is one of the leading Japanese fast food chains. Established in 1899, Yoshinoya has won the hearts of many consumers with its gyudon, or beef bowl (pictured above). It offers convenient, healthy (compared to restaurants like McDonald's), and, most importantly, delicious food at a low price. If one is lucky enough to find a Yoshinoya restaurant, stop in and enjoy the experience.

Case #1c: Select Sketches

Click here for the Master List.

The detective, after discovering Paddington's secret, takes the enchanted teddy bear back to the Detective Agency.

Fun(ny) Song

This has to be one the funnest songs ever. Titled "Hare Hare Yukai," this song hails from the most random-filled anime, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. One must admire the many ways that people use animation technology. This catchy song comes complete with its very own set of dance moves, so grab some friends and take up the challenge of dancing the "Hare Hare Yukai" dance!!!

Note: The video is conveniently mirrored for easy learning

Tried it yet? Tired yet? This could make for a fun workout. 

Happy, but Sad, and Kind of Confused

Courtesy of http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/

From left to right: Sam, Lucifer (in Nick's body), and Dean

First of all, this post may contain spoilers. So you have been warned.

Couple posts ago, I wrote about my excitement and expectations for the season finale of Supernatural. And the dramatic conclusion is...AWESOME!!!!! This episode has met my every expectation, which does not happen very often. I was so happy with the direction that this episode took and was saddened by the apparent end. However, the masterminds of the show really threw me for a loop. Warning; starting here are spoilers and possible confusion for non-followers of the show.

Sam said "yes" to Lucifer (but he and Dean have a plan to beat the Devil), which means that Lucifer can now walk freely on Earth by "wearing" Sam as a suit. However, plot twist ensures, as Dean and Sam discover that their surprise, clever plan to put Lucifer in his cage was not a surprise. Lucifer knew what they were scheming. Then Adam, the long lost Winchester brother, shows up as the Archangel Michael and prepares to fight with his brother, Lucifer/Sam. At the last moment Dean shows up to save Sam. Before he was able to do so, Dean was severely beaten by Lucifer/Sam. After that heart-gripping fight, Sam comes to his senses and overcomes Lucifer's control. As Sam/Lucifer jumps into the Devil's eternal prison, with Michael in tow too, Dean is left all alone (Cas and Bobby were with him, but Lucifer killed they). It was the saddest scene I have seen on television. Then, comes the pile of new questions (hint for Season 6?!). Cas is miraculous brought back to life with all of his angel powers. But who brought him back? God? That leads to the next question: who is God? By the very end of the episode, it seems that the prophet Chuck is the likely candidate (previously "normal human" who sees the plans of Heaven suddenly disappears in a puff of smoke). And Sam is shown to be standing outside Dean's "new home." How did he get out of the eternal prison?

After all that emotional roller-coaster, I must say, I cannot wait for Season 6.