Jessica Zafra's Blog, page 307

Unexpected bookstores

You've probably heard of the one that used to be a church; it's on many "Most Beautiful" lists. Then there's the abandoned glove factory: The medieval villa The gristmill And the barge. Ten Unconventional Bookstores for your browsing pleasure What this city needs: a 24-hour bookstore and self-service laundry.

Notes on the death of Amy Winehouse

1. We heard the news as we came out of a screening of Rakenrol: Amy Winehouse was found dead in her apartment. We assumed her death was drug-related. These were the things we knew about Amy Winehouse. a. She drank a lot and did drugs. b. She was an amazing singer and songwriter. c. Her [...]

Zombadings translation awaaards

The official Zombadings tote bag modeled by harried yet fabulous writer-producer Raymond Lee. Apelonyo, allancarreon, Tara and shadowplay, ang tataroush ninyo! You get the official Zombadings 1: Patayin Sa Shokot Si Remington tote bag and pin. Please post your full names in Comments (they won't be published) so you can claim your prizes. Here are [...]

25 "truths" we put through the wringer

The one thing we were never taught in elementary school was how to be a skeptic. We were trained to believe, obey and never question authority. In effect school was an extension of church (they are run by religious orders after all); those who dared suggest that the teacher was missing something were condemned as [...]

Awww, Quark made a valentine

Additional thanks to the filmmaker for vouching for us when the ticket person said we weren't on the list. Even if she didn't believe him either and he had to repeat it thrice hahaha. How could I not love Quark Henares's movie Rakenrol? It feels like episodes from my own life strung together with jokes [...]

The Hopia Challenge, part 2

Thank you for posting your thoughts on one of the great phenomenological topics of our time: Which hopia is the best? From your knowledgeable comments on hopia (including etymology, thank you) it emerges that there are several schools of thought on "the good biscuit". One holds that "The flaky crust that crumbles upon contact with [...]

Lucian Freud, 1922 – 2011

Lucian Freud, Reflection with two children (Self-portrait) Lucian Freud, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest, most influential and yet most controversial British painters of his era, has died at his London home. Lucian Freud's perverse depictions of magnificent muck Lucian Freud, Girl with kitten

The meeting of the Blood Meridian Readers' Support Group will now come to chaos.

The Blood Meridian Readers' Support Group meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the Shangri-La Mall in Mandaluyong. Our original plan was to have it late at night in some dive with grilled meat and Jack Daniels, but since it was 2pm we had coffee and cupcakes. To match the reading matter the cupcakes were blood-red [...]

The meanest person we've ever heard of

Consolata and I were talking about meanness. "I was much meaner when I was younger," said Consolata. "You mean before Frodo threw the Ring into the fire??" I asked. How do you know Sauron is a bitch? Because he looks like a flaming vagina. Consolata mentioned the time that he (Yes he is a he) [...]

Sloooow service

No relation to the post, we just want to see the Spam sketch. Consolata and I had a very late lunch at Toast Box in Greenbelt 5. They were all out of pork floss so instead of my usual floss toast, soft-boiled eggs and coffee with condensed milk I had the Hainanese chicken rice. Consolata [...]