Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Mind over Matter?

Ever get to that point where everything just starts to collide? My problem is I'm most likely taking on too much...more than I can handle. But it kept me alert at first, now I'm feeling the pressure. Hopefully, it is good stress, something that keeps you motivated rather than bring you down. I'm taking up the hobby of running/exercising something everyone should be doing, to release all anxiety I've been feeling and to better my health. It's so much that when I begin to jog, all the thoughts rush and I am clouded by words and images...I start to think ahead of myself and throw off my breathing. I feel my life is literally colliding with events within itself. All I could after the jog, is to literally TRY to think of nothing...it worked but I know the thoughts are there. I just laid them on a sheet of paper for now...I know with planning, I can set my life back on track.


"Remember (that it's all in your head.)"  - Gorillaz, Clint Eastwood

Hopefully things will work out.

Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Threadless March Madness

Threadless.com is having yet another sale and I highly suggest you guys take advantage of it!

Never heard of Threadless?
It's a community where you can participate on what gets to be printed on a shirt, based on ratings.
You can submit designs and earn money if your design gets picked!
(Plus, you'll get tons of recognition and people all over the world will be wearing YOUR shirt. Now ain't that cool!)

Currently, only 24 hours remain on the clock for $10 tees, which are usually in the $20-$24 range.
And they have some pretty sweet ones up. I just hope I'm not left broke in the end.


Check out designs from people: Submissions
There you can rate and comment if you want it as a tee or an Art Print.

Other than that, hope you guys browse around and maybe you'll find something that will be to your liking :)

The following are just some random shirts, Enjoy!






Also, almost forgot....they have hoodies and kids/babies section!! So everyone in the family can be rocking some sick designs :)








Monday, March 21, 2011

Chew: To Eat or Not to Eat?

...That is the question Tony Chu has to face everyday.


Who is Tony Chu, you ask?
Tony Chew is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is a Cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he's a hell of a detective, as long as he doesn't mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit, and why. He's been brought on by the Special Crimes Division of the FDA, the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, to investigate their strangest, sickest, and most bizarre cases.



Chew is an Eisner Award-winning American comic book series written by John Layman with art by Rob Guillory and published by Image Comics. There are a total of 17 comics as of February 2011 and a total of 3 Trade paperbacks:

and a hardcover edition collecting the first two Trade paperbacks:

Now, I am starting to collect graphic novels and comics so this was on the top of my list. I can honestly say it is a unique read, awesome plot and just an overall twisted, sick and funny series. As you read, you instantly become hooked on the various characters (and their powers), their background stories, and once you reach the last page, you'll be begging for more! I hope you guys get a chance to read this series as you will not be disappointed. 


You can pick up the Chew Vol.1 (1-5) from Amazon for only 9.99 (If you don't know already, you can sign up for Amazon Student, Unlimited FREE 2-Day Shipping and only $3.99 for 1 Day Shipping. FREE FOR ONE YEAR. All you need is a Student .Edu Email).


The following is a plot summary of the first issue:

Set in a world where all chicken and other bird meats are illegal, after a catastrophic outbreak of the bird flu that killed 23 million Americans, Chew centers on Tony Chu, a police detective who is a Cibopath (pronounced "see-bo-path"). Tony becomes a vice cop with the Philadelphia Police Department, and when on assignment, trying to find people smuggling chicken, he enters a black market chicken restaurant on invitation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA). He has a bowl of chicken soup only to find he gets a psychic impression of the cook, horrifically killing people and then putting them into the soup. He goes to bust the cook, only for the cook to kill himself outside the restaurant. Chu states "Dammit, you rather die than go to Jail? Fine. But I'm still getting those names".

Chu then sinks his teeth into the cooks neck and eats the cook to find out the names of the rest of the victims. He does this to give the family some closure, to whom some had been completely written off as Cold Cases. Now, Chu couldn't get away with biting the perp's corpse and is eventually fired from his job with the Philadelphia PD. As hope seems lost to Chu, enter Agent Mason Savoy who hires Chu on to the Special Crimes Division of the FDA. Ending the first issue with much anticipation is Mavoy's welcoming words, "You work for us now. Welcome to the F.D.A...Agent Chu."


(Agent Mason Savoy on Issue 5 Cover Art)

I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on whatever graphic novels I can get my hands on. Through this, I hope you'll pick up a copy...trust me, you'll love it.
Hope you enjoyed reading, goodbye...until next time.




Sunday, March 20, 2011

The return of T-Bag

And by that I mean the Character from Prison Break (get your mind out of the gutters!)


One of my favorite (besides John Abruzzi) characters from Prison Break, Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwel is going to bring back the role in A&E´s new series "Breakout Kings". He is raw, witty and just overall an EVIL BADASS!


The show´s plot is basically about a squad of U.S. marshals who team up with ex-cons to work together on tracking down prison escapees.
"It takes a con to catch a con." - Breakout Kings



Hopefully the show will get good ratings, as I am a big fan of Prison Break and was instantly hooked! The series lasted from 2005-2009. Breakout Kings was created by former writers/producers of Prison Break, so I´m pretty psyched to see it tonight.

It premieres on A&E TONIGHT (SUNDAY, MARCH 20) at 10pm.
I hope you guys get a chance to watch and leave feedback if you can.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Nice Gauges Dude! : Tips and Info to "Stretching" Earlobes.

Now...I can't recall how many times I've heard this saying, but I can sure say its been a TON.


Even if you don't pertain to this particular subject, it's always fun to learn something new. (Plus if you have some friends with stretched earlobes, you can correct them!!)

Some people out there are very misinformed about the process of stretching earlobes.

Huh? You've never heard of ear stretching you say? Well....
Ear stretching is a way literally stretch the skin of your ear lobe by gradually increasing the size of the jewellery you wear in it. There should always be a gap of 1 1/2 - 2 Months before the next stretch, so there can be a rest period. 

I started stretching my earlobes since Senior Year '08, and I'm currently at 7/16" on both.

The following is mostly going to circle around MY personal tips and information about the process...


As you can see, stretching ears have always been popular but I feel the trend has escalated and it is very common to see individuals with them. The following are the simple steps to achieve stretched earlobes:

Steps to Stretching Earlobes

1. First step is to get your ear or ears pierced by a professional. Find a place in the mall.
Claire's does it for cheap.

2. Wait until your ears are fully healed (about 2 months after getting pierced.) Buy either a 1.6mm or 1.2mm straight titanium body bar. Look for help at local tattoo shops, malls, and if no other option Hot Topic.
Slowly insert the bar through your pierced ear, at first it may seem like it won't go but with a little effort (wiggling), it will go through.


3. Like before, after your ear has healed from the first stretch (rest period of at 2 weeks), insert the smallest (18mm or 16mm) size earring/taper and start from there.
 
(Above: Pinchers)
Check out eBay for stretching kits.
Buy in bulk to save money: Ear Stretching Set, brings both tapers and plugs.

4. Continue in this way until you reach your desired size. Always leave at least two weeks between each stretch and always only go up to the next size.
If you get to a point where it is getting difficult to increase in size, stop what you are doing. Use oil or specific ear cream, never force a stretch.


FYI: 0g is normally seen as the "point of no return" as over this size there is a significant risk that the hole will never shrink back to the size of the original piercing




The following are personal tips/suggestions:

 


First of all, let's end this ignorance of "Nice Gauges Bro!"
Gauges are NOT Plugs, they are a size/measurement.

An example, We don't call Jeans inches now do we? (at least I hope you don't >.>)






 
Second, Stretching is not a race! Start off small and increment slowly. DO NOT SKIP SIZES.
If you want to keep your ears healthy and avoid Blowouts (see pic to the left.)



Blowouts basically mean, you dun goofed.
You stretched too fast, you weren't ready and you're going to have scar tissue build up.



SO LISTEN UP AND LISTEN GOOD, slow and steady wins the race.
  • Start from 18 or 16mm and go up to the next size: 16mm, 14mm, 12mm, 10mm etc.

  • Do use tapers but DO NOT leave them in the earlobe, quickly insert plugs once you reach the end of the taper.

[In all seriousness...In case blowouts happen, I suggest downsizing and constant warm salt soaks. Look online for other tips.]



Third and most importantly,  
Learn how keep your earlobes nice and healthy :)

1. Wash them constantly, Good place is in the shower every morning. Take off plugs, tunnels etc. and wash with soap.

2. Maintain those healthy ear lobes with special ear care creams/oils. I highly recommend these on a daily basis:

Holey Butt'r: Contains a natural blend of emollients and moisturizers including Karanja oil, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Soy wax.


Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil is recommended to beautify, protect, and maintain your organic body jewelry including wood, stone, horn, and bone. (VEGAN FRIENDLY)

Emu Oil: Proven to no clog pores, allowing the skin to breath during the healing process. Emu oil is rich in nurtriets and hastens the healing process after stretching. 
Emu oil is also a natural emollient keeping the skin moist and pliable.


3. Try using organic wood plugs, keeps that ear cheese away and that god awful stink you get using steel tunnels. Your earlobes will love you for it :)



That's it for now! 
To those considering stretching, now you know right from wrong and I wish you good luck!
Thanks for reading and hope this is well informed.

My next post will consists on different online companies, brands and different styles of "jewelery".

Stay tuned! 




I'll end it with a few pictures of me wearing my favorites...

Bloodwood Ondas


Ebony Trumpeters

 Kaos Skin Eyelets (Black)




Friday, March 18, 2011

Point and Shoot

Yesterday was a very productive day.
I tagged along with some friends to go to the woods, they were planning to film a concept of some sort...involving a shovel and pick axe, digging, shotgun, cigarettes and...zombies. The area was treacherous,  we were always cautious of our next step (in case of sinking mud.)

I managed to take an instant Polaroid shot of a friend sitting on an abandoned truck (or whatever remained) and the rest of the time, I spent taking photos on my Lomographic Fisheye Number 2 Camera.
Very interesting piece of equipment.



Here's one of my first shots on my first roll of film. Not bad huh?
Inexpensive, fun and creative camera.

If you get a chance, visit the Fisheye Flickr.



As for the photos taken at the woods, I will be posting them up as soon as soon as I get them developed.

I'm always on the lookout for little gadgets here and there and I'd love to hear some of your hobbies.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Pushing through the crowd

With being in a band under my belt, I am constantly trying to search for new music.

Trying to hear the voices of the local scene and its Melodic, entrancing lyrics, and atmospheric tones...


I stumbled upon a local Miami band by the name of MorningWar, an indie/progressive band. 

I had a chance to see them perform live at Sweat Records, located in downtown Miami, and it was just a pleasure seeing a group with such energy and poise.

The band released their debut album "The Front Room Ep" in June 2010.
They wrote and produced the album themselves and recorded/mixed and mastered by Mario De Los Santos of MorningWar.

They are constantly playing places and two members of the group have started their own solo project:

Mario De Los Santos: Telescope Thieves
Selim Castillo: Selim Castillo



I can really see them going places, I can only wish them the best.
And I encourage everyone to go out and check out the local scene, you never know what's out there.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Every Ending has a Beginning...

and this is where I begin.

I will try my best to inform you of what life brings me; love, music, adventures, graphic novels...




It's going to be one hell of a ride,
Stay Tuned.  :)

-DC ♥