It’s still snowing hard outside. Vassar closed today. Spending the whole day at home creating the layout for nfsahc.org. It is taking so much time on a 19″ monitor. I am so used to the dual monitors at work. Plus, my Pen II is so slow compared to the G4 at work.

Upcoming Projects

Designing a web site for the Network for Safe and Healthy Children. Working on a gallery studio for the Art Department at Vassar. More work, less sleep.

Top 10 Inspirational Lyrics

Came up with this list while driving home.

01. Dear Mama – 2pac
02. Tro Ve Cat Bui
03. Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
04. Stan – Eminem
05. Mot Chut Qua Cho Que Huong – Viet Dzung
06. Mot Lan Mien Vien Xot Xa
07. Tears – Wu Tang
08. Imagine – John Lennon
09. Who We Be – DMX
10. If I Ruled the World – Nas

Currently jamming to “Tinh Xot Xa Thoi” from My Tam new album “Dau Chi Rieng Em.” Love that Latin beat, makes me want to get my groove on. Her voice is so damn sweet. I think I am falling in love with this chic. “Co be toc nau moi tram cua toi oi!”

Nguoi Ra Di

Also listening to “Nguoi Ra Di,” the Vietnamese version of Soledad from Westlife. The lyrics of each version have their own attractiveness.

“Nguoi ra di, bo lai day chat ngat nhung don dau va con tim nho thuong mong cho. Sao em ra di roi nguoi yeu hoi. Nguoi noi dau dem nay co nho chang. Tinh say dam da trao cho nguoi. Sao nay em quen roi, giac mo xua.” – Nhom MTV

“Soledad, it’s a keeping for the lonely since the day that you were gone. Why did you leave me, Soledad? In my heart you were the only and your memory live on. Why did you leave me, Soledad?” -Westlife

Too Much Music

You probably wondering why I listen to music too much. Well, music plays a big part of my life. I appreciate the aesthetic qualities of music; therefore, my music flavor is very diverse. Doesn’t matter which genre or culture, as long as it pleases my ears, mind and soul. Music also inspires me with my work. Wish I could have speakers in my office and just shut the door and crack up the volume. The headphone is killing my ears.

New book arrived. Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, author of the famous Neuronmancer.

Inspiration

Check out o2studio, a design resource, inspiration and community, created by the folks at skvisual.

Sexy

Smooth navigation, simple layout with hot photos, Robby Cyron photography portfolio is sexy as hell.

I was watching Chris Rock, Bigger and Blacker last night. He cracked me up so bad. All his jokes were hilarious but the two cracked me up the most were: 1) He was talking the needs for men from women. Food, sex and silence. Feed me, fuck me and shut the fuck up. 2) He was explaining the different lies between men and women. Men lies about everything and it became our habits, “Yo baby, I ma go to my boy’s crib…” stupid stuff like that. Women lies, “It’s your baby.” Ouchhhh…. Highly recommended if you’re looking a hard good laugh.

Binh Minh Se Mang Em Di – Dam Vinh Hung

“Xin hay hon anh that long, vi mai da xa nhau that roi. Anh biet, Khi tan bong dem, binh minh roi se mang em that xa.” -Dam Vinh Hung

This song stuck in my head now. The English version is really nice too.

“Hold, hold me for a while. I know, this won’t last forever. So hold, hold me tonight, before the morning takes you away.” -Rednex

Got a sneak peak at NML (Netomat Markup Language), a new language for the internet that is being developed by Netomat. Netomat Communication System allows users to create animation, add or import sounds along with digital photos and texts. NML is based on XML tags and runs on Java-based platform; therefore, it requires no proprietary plug-in. Although the idea is very interesting, it is still in its very early stage. The company is currently looking for beta testers, sign up!

Snowing

It is snowing in Poughkeepsie, New York. The weather is nice and Vassar Campus is gorgeous. What a lovely Friday!

Form Follows Function,/h2.
Basic approach to web design is form follows function. Whether you’re an artist, print designer or programmer transforming to web design, respect the medium. As Peter-Paul Koch stated, “Misunderstanding the function of a Web site isn’t restricted to designers alone. Techies can have the same problem.” Be sure to read his other great articles from Keep it Simple column.

My office was being repainted and the odor gave me a headache so I took off with Kara and Keisha to Target to get some office decorations. Well, I didn’t get anything because I didn’t know what to get. It was a nice hang out though. By the way, Keisha new layout is so slick and sexy. Talking about sexy, check out President Bush, he is as sexy as a monkey!

Currently reading ActionScipt for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide by Colin Moock.

Film Screening: Sun, 02.09.03, 7pm, Blodgett Auditorium, Vassar College

Trembling Before G-d is documentary film, directed by Sandi Dubowski, about the struggles of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian. Director Sandi Dubowski will lead a Question and Answer discussion following the screening.

2 am in the mornin’
Br-r-ring. Br-r-ring.
Me: hello
Nate: It’s Nate!
Me: What’s up dog?
Nate: What was that song we were jammin’ to in your car?
Me: Huh?
Nate: You know, that Jay-Z joint!
Me: Oh, “Some People Hate Us” some shit like that.
Nate: Oh! alright.
Me: Why?
Nate: Cuz I wanna download it.
Me: You call me up 2 o’clock in the fuckin’ mornin’ just to ask me this?
Nate: Yeah, my bad, dog.
Me: You’re out of your fuckin’ mind, dog.
Nate: I know, “laughhhhh”
Me: Yeah, “laughhhhhhh”
Nate: Alright dog, I ma let you go back to bed.
Me: Alright, later dog.

That’s my boy Nate. I got him hooked on the song called “Some People Hate” by Jay-Z. I love the way Hip Hop beats mixed with Oldie drums on this track. The song is so creative although Jay-Z bit of 2pac’s lyrics a little bit.

“Raw rough and rugged, when addressin’ the mass public.
My attitude is fuck it cause motherfuckers love it” – Jay-Z

“Mama made me rugged, baptised the public.
Now you hard thugs, nigga don’t you love it” – 2pac

Samantha

Spent some time with Samantha over the weekend. She is so full of life. I enjoyed every minute with her. Left behind all my stresses and worries because she made me so happy. She is my motivation and inspiration. Now I understand why people would want to have kids. I miss you so much, kiddie!

The Avant-Garde

Great architectural drawings with a slick Flash interface. The Changing of the Avant-Garde website is clean and organized.

God bless our astronauts. Our condolences go out to families and friends of the seven astronauts died 16 minutes from home.

Toi Di Tim Toi (I am searching within myself)

Love this song performed by Ly Hai. The beat is great and the lyrics reflect my feelings.

“Co nhung toi nghe mua roi that buon, lanh vang goc pho quen minh toi. Toi di tim trong toi, tim trong hoi men cay, mot hinh bong da mai xa tam tay.”

“In the sadness of a rainy night, I am walking alone in a cold city. I am searching within myself, searching in my intoxication, for an appearance that is so far out of reach.” Something like that. It makes more sense in Vietnamese 🙂

It’s time to renew ourselves. Change is good for any of us. Leave behind all the sadness and ring in all the happiness. Best wishes to you and your family for a prosperous and healthy new year.