Jessica Zafra's Blog, page 369

Literal much?

Some guy threw the book at Barack Obama. It happened during a Democratic campaign rally in Philadelphia Monday. The guy didn't mean it as a statement. Apparently he himself was the author of the book, and he was hoping Obama would read it. There must be a less…confrontational way to get your book read. Barack [...]

LitWit Challenge 3.10: Manila's Finest

Photo: Manila in the 1960s. Your detective has to work in Manila 2010. London has Sherlock Holmes. Paris has Inspector Maigret. Bangkok has the half-farang Sonchai Jitpleecheep. New York has Nick and Nora Charles, Los Angeles Philip Marlowe. Vigata, Sicily has the world-weary foodie Inspector Montalbano. Vientiane, Laos has Dr. Siri Paiboun, Edinburgh Inspector Rebus, [...]

The winner of LitWit Challenge 3.9: Mirror, mirror is…

Winners, actually, we have two. But first, a story from my childhood (groan). When I was in grade school I hated the phrase, "Give chance to others." It is a literal and awkward translation of "Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang iba." It meant that even if you were the student most qualified for something, you [...]

Meeting Alan Moore

Our friend Budjette is in Manchester for a few months and he just met the man. That's Mr. Moore on the left, and Budjette looking thrilled to pieces. Couple of weeks ago, I read this announcement in Bleeding Cool that Alan Moore was giving a talk in Northampton for the benefit of the Fight for [...]

So out I'm in

Ricky pointed out these glasses in the Prada look book. Familiar? My Brooklyn thrift shop glasses–similar shape, but less loopy. In the cycle of fashion, the dorky and uncool eventually becomes cool. Here's a column about an out-of-body experience, the geographically-challenged, Madame Bovary, being called Sir to my face, how we would kill at Quiz [...]

Probably the nastiest vilest most fascinating story you're going to read today

A tale of hysterical wealth, incest, reputation-scrubbing and general scumbagginess. Featuring an onscreen cameo by Mel Gibson, who is absolutely sane and well-behaved next to these people. That article by Tony Ortega in the Village Voice.

And the bishops said to the prez…

Our favorite funky little freak weighs in on the raging Reproductive Health Bill debate. Only he said it 20 years ago. Art foretells the future. Listen. What am I supposed to do when the President can't get nothing passed… So you can be the President I'd rather be the Pope (I'd rather be…so happy) You [...]

LitWit Challenge 3.9: Mirror, mirror (The Yucch-meter had nothing to read for two days.)

You know the drill. Tell us the story of this picture. Extra rule: Your story cannot have a guy looking at himself in the mirror. Hahahahaha. Our model is Matt Saunders of the Philippine Volcanoes, the national rugby team. He is the leading try scorer for the team in international test matches. (It's called a [...]

Our one movie of the year

My reclusive friend The Bone has already chosen our one movie of the year for 2011. Earlier this year we saw Crazy Heart starring Jeff Bridges. Next year's movie also stars Jeff Bridges: the Coen Brothers' remake of True Grit, with Bridges in the John Wayne role. The Bone was hoping for Big Lebowski-type humor, [...]

Because we might win something?

The Philippine Volcanoes, the national men's rugby union team Gold medalist, Rugby 7s, 2005 Southeast Asian Games Silver medalist, 2007 Southeast Asian Games Champion, 2008 ARFU Asian 5 Nations Division 4 Champion, 2009 ARFU Asian 5 Nations Division 3 Champion, 2009 ARFU Asian 5 Nations Division 2 Not representing the Philippines at the 2010 Asian [...]