Jessica Zafra's Blog, page 308

Balut and Imelda in Esquire

Thanks to Stella for the alert! Tom Parker Bowles writes about Manila and Filipino cuisine in the August 2011 issue of Esquire (UK). Parker Bowles is the food editor of Esquire and stepson of the Prince of Wales. Friends warned him that Manila was a "cesspool, hellhole, armpit, dirty dive" but he came here anyway. [...]

I have nothing to read.

Do you ever look at your reading backlog and declare that You Have Nothing To Read? You know you have stacks of unread books but you look at them and decide that there's nothing there for you and you have to run to a bookstore, it's an emergency. Fortunately I spotted the Orwell and decided [...]

This song is so gorgeous it's excruciating.

Since posting the video for "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" on Sunday night I've been listening to the early Elton John, particularly the songs he co-wrote with Bernie Taupin. I realize that I've never really paid attention to Elton John and now I'm making up for it. When I was a kid he was the [...]

The Hopia Challenge (Updated)

I am a hopia monster. I love hopia. Hopia and Coke, hopia and coffee, I'm happy. Put a hopia under 20 mattresses and I'll know it's there. Starting today we shall attempt to answer one of the burning questions of the age: Which hopia is the best? Is it Ho-Land or Polland? Eng Bee Tin? [...]

The Hopia Challenge

I am a hopia monster. I love hopia. Hopia and Coke, hopia and coffee, I'm happy. Put a hopia under 20 mattresses and I'll know it's there. Starting today we shall attempt to answer one of the burning questions of the age: Which hopia is the best? Is it Ho-Land or Polland? Eng Bee Tin? [...]

Anak ng fuchsia!

Sali na sa paligsahan ng pagsasalin! Translate Raymond Queneau into Baklese and win one of these.

40 Conversations About Billboards

Billboards, Los Angeles, 2019. From Blade Runner. Rush hour traffic northbound on Edsa Guadalupe, 1 July 2011 1. " . . ." "OMG." "WTF!" 2. "They're so. . .they're so. . .naked. I mean technically they're not naked because they're wearing little briefs but the tiny scraps actually call attention to what's under them so [...]

"Courage in the face of mediocrity." A eulogy for Don Escudero by Peque Gallaga

Don on the set of Unfaithful Wife. Photo by Uro de la Cruz. A Eulogy for Don Escudero, 1955-2011 by Peque Gallaga How can I talk about Don without talking about the movies? What can I say about Don that you don't already know? I'll have to say it anyway, because these things should not [...]

Supergods: The evolution of superhero comics

Futzing with ancient myths: Tarsem Singh's The Immortals, starring Henry Cavill who will play Superman Superhero comics – secular modern myths, written in collaboration by generations of writers – have tracked our culture for more than 70 years, providing wish fulfilment fantasies, cultural exemplars, vehicles of satire and cautionary tales of the abuse of power. [...]

Live in a Zombie-Proof House

Movable concrete walls seal everything in. Read The First Zombie-Proof House.