Flu Shot and Other Nerves

I almost snored on the bus today. Thank God I didn't or I would have ended somewhere and not at school. First thing I did at school was to go to the clinic and have my flu shot.



Also, I am glad that I earned A's for my research proposal for my History of American Journalism class as well as my analyses papers. However, I will have to dig up a lot of books at the library. If David doesn't drag me around Rochester etc. I might finish it in due time.



We also watched "Babel" in my Critical Perspective on Mass Communication class. David and I have already seen the movie but it was refreshing to see it again. The DVD copy at the public library is always on a "reserved" status.



My group won in the "Jeopardy" game in our HIV/AIDS Issues class.

* * *

I don't know what I am talking about. This is what you get when you're too tired to think of anything to write.

Another Collection of Outstanding Short Films

Finally, I finished watching all the short films nominated in the 75th Annual Academy Awards. Thanks to Leroy V. Good Library of Monroe Community College which has a copy of the collection. Here are the films in the collection (with excerpts from the back cover of the DVD):

Best Live Action Short Film

1. This Charming Man ("Der Er En Yndig Mand" from Denmark) - winner

"Taking advantage of a mix-up at the unemployment office, Lars Hansen becomes Pakistani immigrant El Hassan. Will his masquerade land him a job and win him the affection of his politically correct school teacher?" (29 minutes)

2. I'll Wait for the Next One ("J'Attendrai Le Suivant" from France)

"A lonely young woman boards the subway and meets a panhandler who's begging for love rather than money." (4 minutes)

3. Gridlock ("Fait d'Hiver" from Belgium)

"Stuck in a traffic, a harried businessman calls home on his new cell phone - and dials up a nightmare." (7 minutes)

4. Dog ("Inja" from Australia)

"In South Africa, a long-brutalized dog comes between a white landowner and his black farmhand - with fateful results." (17 minutes)

Best Animated Short Film

1. The ChubbChubbs! (USA) - winner

2. Rocks ("Das Rad" from Germany)

3. Mt. Head ("Atama Yama" from Japan)

4. Mike's New Car (USA)

5. The Cathedral (Poland)

Crouching Tiger out, West Bank Story in

After much thought and consideration I ended up changing the movie that I will critique for my film class.

Last time I submitted my proposal on "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" by Taiwanese director Ang Lee. However, last week, I borrowed a DVD at the library which featured the nominated short films in the 2006 Academy Awards. A short film entitled "West Bank Story" by director Ari Sandel caught my attention. I watched it over and over again. Each review proved to be enlightening and so engrossing that I decided to use this film instead. With all due respect to Ang Lee of course whose works I consider masterpieces. I truly liked his film "Eat Drink Man Woman" as well as "Brokeback Mountain". "Crouching Tiger", on the other hand, is one of my all-time favorite movies. I just think it is better to discuss a film which has timely significance.

I asked my good professor today if I could change my proposal. Good thing she said yes.

Lastly, I sent an E-mail to Mr. Sandel to inquire whether he would be available to answer some questions (through correspondence, of course) about his movie. His reply was:

So glad you enjoy the film and have chosen to write about it. Unfortunately I am on set and in the middle of another project so I wil be unable to answer any questions but you can go to westbankstory.com and click on Facts and all the answers will be there. Hope that helps. Thanks.

Ari

I'm disappointed in a way but I am glad that Mr. Sandel was courteous enough to respond to my E-mail.

I wonder what film is he making now.

Reminiscing Masskara Festival

These are masks embossed with semi-precious stones. They were being sold in a store at the Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Being David Smith

This was taken during our trip to the Thousand Islands (after our trip io Montreal). We were waiting for the boat that will take us on a tour of the famous tourist spot. Pam was with us.

This is my first time to do a video using my camera. This is a real treat.

Oct. 22 is special

My friends know why.

Wineries and sceneries

The leaves of the trees are beginning to turn yellow and orange. Autumn season is here.

David, above and below, taking a break on one of the benches at the many wineries in Seneca Lake.

Glenora winery.

A view of the hotel from the Glenora winery. An overnight stay would cost, we found out from the brochure, about $200-500. That's more than what we paid for a night stay at The Mirage.

David acting like a wine connoisseur. We had wine at the Bistro of Red Newt restaurant and wineries earlier.

Weekend Trips

Saturday wasn't a good day for both David and I. But we went out for lunch at Pineapple Jack's after rejecting the menu of the new restaurant at the Holiday Inn. We survived Saturday though.

Sunday I was walking on my toes as I haven't read the first few pages of the books assigned in class. There were piles of books that I need to read. And David dragged me to Seneca Lake just to eat at the Bistro of Red Newt restaurant and winery. The place and the scenery were great but I was terribly frustrated for not having done my work.

The Red Newt restaurant and winery.

The view of the grape plantation from the restaurant's terrace.

We ate outside of course.

David leaving the restaurant.

A Sample of 'West Bank Story'

Here's the wonderful trailer of "West Bank Story".

Outstanding Short Films

The West Bank Story poster

From the web

I just finished watching the short films nominated in the 2006 Academy Award. Thanks to the DVD collection I borrowed from LeRoy V. Good Library at Monroe Community College.

The collection includes:

Live Action

1. West Bank Story (winner) of Ari Sandel (United States)


2. The Saviour by Peter Templeman (Austrailia)


3. One Too Many by Borja Cobeaga (Spain)


4. Helmer & Son by Soren Pilmark (Denmark)


5. Binta & the Great Idea by Javier Fesser (Spain)

Animation

1. The Danish Poet (winner) by Torill Kove (Norway and Canada)


2. Maestro by Geza M. Toth (Hungary)

I haven't watched the bonus short films (but I will eventually). They are:

1. A Gentleman's Duel by Francisco Ruiz and Sean McNally


2. Guide Dog by Bill Plympton


3. One Short Rat by Alex Weil


4. The Passenger by Chris Jones


5. Surviving the Rush by Sean Farley


6. The Wraith of Cobble Hill by Adam Parrish King

West Bank Story is an exceptional film. It was written by Kim Ray and Ari Sandel. The music was composed by Yuval Ron. Set in imaginary West Bank, Palestine it is a parody of West Side Story with the elements of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Two conflicting restaurants are featured: Kosher King of the Jews ("we never open on Sabbath") and Hummus Hut of the Arabs ("we love garbanzos beans").

Ordering food at the Hummus Hut is enticing - a girl firing a machine gun. Menu includes: "Settlement must be cruched kabbob platter" and "Death by chocolate suicide bomber cream pie" (reminds me of my favorite Perry's ice cream flavor, "Death by Chocolate".

The love story is between an Arab girl, Fatima palyed by Noureen Dewulf, and Israeli soldier, David, played by David Newmark. Of course their own brothers (both restaurant managers- Ariel, a Jew played by A. J. Tannen, and Ahmed, an Arab played by Joey Naber - were opposed to their romance.

This Made Me Think

Photo from the web

"I like men because they're men."

-Dale Levitski, above, of Chicago, IL,

Top Chef Miami runner up

I wasn't expecting Dale to end up in the final three of the Top Chef season three finale. I did expect Casey (of Dallas, TX) and Hung (of Las Vegas, NV) to be in the finals though. I wasn't all in favor of giving the prize to Hung. No matter how good he was, proving his finesse techniques, his personality is a big thumbs down. Is he a good example of a competitor? No. Should he be called a model to all immigrants? Maybe, for what he has achieved but other than that... phew. I"m glad I'm not his friend. It would have been nice if he was humble like most Asians are perceived to be, but, like Marcel, he turned out to be a narcissist. I am glad that Casey won as fan favorite. Casey, you rock!

Casey and Hung

Photos from the web

Now, I guess we have to applaud Dale for being open about his sexuality. Here he emphasized the obvious - men are men. From whichever side you inspect them, they'll still be men.

Sunday Trip

Photo from the website

After church Sunday David and I went to Penn Yan to eat lunch at the Esperanza Mansions. David will drive great distances just for food.

I Can Live With This

I certainly cannot live in a house with books - lots of books! Even when I was in Bacolod I have a collection, most of them are critically acclaimed. Though I haven't read most of them because I had no time. Anyway, I must say that David is warning me that his house's floor might collapse if I bring more books home. I can't help it. I was deprived of owning lots of books when I was still in the Philippines.

Here's the result of my "what kind of reader are you" quiz.

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Literate Good Citizen You read to inform or entertain yourself, but you're not nerdy about it. You've read most major classics (in school) and you have a favorite genre or two.
Dedicated Reader
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

At least it is positive.

This Made Me Think

"I've won all the prizes in Europe, every bloody one, so I'm delighted to win them all, the whole lot, OK?"

-Doris Lessing, in an ambush interview with the

media after the announcement that she has won

the 2007 Nobel Prize.

Doris Lessing wins Nobel Prize

Photo from the web

Doris Lessing won this year's Nobel Prize for Literature. I haven't read her books but I have copies of them. I have a copy of her short story collection. She is primarily known for her novel The Golden Notebook (pictured below).

For more reports of her winning the prize click here and here.

The Nobel Organization said of Lessing's works: "that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny." I don't know what that means.

Writing the mediamen

This year's fellows to the Reham Al Farra Memorial Journalists’ Fellowship Programme, formerly known as the United Nations Department of Public Information Training Programme, visited Rochester, New York on Monday, Oct. 8 to interact with journalists and journalism students. SUNY Brockport was one of the places they visited. We had a discussion about their profession in my class, History of American Journalism under Dr. Kate Madden (the KMaddenNews.com). I interviewed Khan Sophirom who is from Cambodia.

Two of the fellows with Laura Luettger, right, editor in chief of The Stylus, Brockport's student publication.

The editors of The Stylus, SUNY Brockport's student paper.

Gisella Bayona Ponce, center, a TV journalist from Ecuador, explains how and why she turned down offers to host music television shows. She opted to host TV news instead and do investigative reports.

No, Nicole is not sleeping on the job (she's one of the writers of The Stylus). It's my fault why her picture came out this way. Dr. Madden, on the other hand, pays attention to the discussion.

The fellows were Khan Sophirom of Cambodia, a senior reporter of Rasmei Kampuchea Daily; Bay Okakeng Tsimane, Botswana, GABZ FM Radio; Augustin Zuzanne, Chad, N’Djamena Bi-Hebdo; Loulou Said, Comoros, Office de radio et télévision des Comoros (ORTC); Carol Mariela Croussett, Dominican Republic, Clave & Clave Digital; Gisella Bayona Ponce, Ecuador, Teleamazonas; Meerim Sultangazievna, Kyrgyzstan, Radio Azattyk; Mariyam Shuhana Maldives, Miadhu Daily; Claudia David, [Federated States of] Micronesia, V6AH Radio; Vlatko Otasevic, Montenegro, PBS – TV of Montenegro TVCG; Eleutério Dos Santos Neto, Sao Tome and Principe, Rádio Nacional de São Tomé e Príncipe; Miloš Šteric, Serbia, Blic; Maria Zevonia Vieria, Timor-Leste, TLMDC – RTL.

The Programme was renamed for a United Nations Radio journalist, Reham Al Farra, who lost her life along with 21 colleagues in the bombing of the UN Office in Baghdad in August 2003, a press release from the UN said.

Mandarin Duck

My favorite bird.

We Are All Angels

David watched a documentary video, We are All Angels, yesterday at the Little Theatre, 5:30 p.m. It is about Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio of the famous Jason and deMarco duo.

Photo from the web

Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio

Tomorrow, we are going to watch The Witnesses (Les Temoins) at the Little Theatre, 9:30 p.m.

Poster from the web

These films are part of the Image Out festival.

Wherever travels and other syndrome

First, let me say I had a great time talking again with George M. Pontino, Jr on Friday. Jorje, as I call him, is Sun.Star Bacolod's former lifestyle editor. He is based in the Middle East now. I got the chance to talk to him thru Yahoo Messenger. It was a nice conversation. Thanks Jorje.

On Friday, too was the start of a long journey for David and me. He picked me up at Brockport about 5 p.m. He said he really didn't want to go out that day for his arm hurts. He tried to reach me thru Yahoo IM but I haven't had the chance to go to the school's computer lounge because of my tight schedule. Anyway, he did show up. We went to Hurds Orchard at Holley, NY, just off Brockport, to buy apple raspberry pie. Later we dined at Pineapple Jack's. I had chicken parmesan while David had chicken with alfredo sauce.

On Saturday, we went around Rochester. (If Mayor Duffy would ask for somebody to show tourist around the Rochester I'd be willing to take the challenge. I have my qualification. I am a graduate of the David W. Smith's tourism school). First we bought fruits and vegetables at the public market. You have to be there early in the morning so you'll find a place to park.

Different varieties of peppers.

Bags for the ladies.

Different variety of apples.

Red bell peppers.

Fresh cut flowers.

Scenes at the public market every Saturday.

I just learned that the place turned 102.

Then we headed off to Wickham farm. Again we lost our way, David not knowing where the place is located. We ended up in several places. Luckily, David asked somebody for direction.

The farm was nice. They offered lots of activities for the kids.

Flowers give the store a comely appeal.

Waves of pumpkins.

A tour of the farm.

Miniature golf.

Artificial trees. Children can pick their own apples for a fee.

Inside the store. Note the scarecrows on the second floor.

Driving my own tractor.

David all smile inside the store.

Then we looked at houses like it is our only pasttime.

Believe me there are many beautiful mansions near David's place.

Though David likes the houses featured above he wouldn't live in one of them. He likes ranch houses better.

Later in the evening we went to a chicken barbeque dinner at a church. The chicken was dry. Water wasn't free.

At 9:30 p.m. we headed back to the city to watch a film featured in the 15th Image Out Film Festival. It was shown at the Little Theatre.

We watched A Four Letter Word by Casper Andreas. Check on the film's website and watch the pictures featured in the gallery. Charlie David is a dreamboat. You have to see though what package Charlie David brings at the website. Here's just a portion of the film's poster:

Poster from the web

The film is hilarious and educational as well.

On Sunday, we visited the Genesee Country Village and Museum for the second time. We were amazed how many people were there. It turned out that it was their agricultural fair.

I will feature the different activities they had in my next blog. We spent several hours there. After that we ate lunch at a little diner near the museum. We forgot to list down the name of the place. They serve delicious meals.

In the evening we watched another film featured by Image Out at the Dryden Theatre. It was a Korean film. I do think it is not a gay film. I thought it would be as majestic as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but it only relied on the plot and not on techniques.

Posters from the web

The King and the Clown.