Munching on banh pia, sipping tea, listening to Wu Tang’s classic debut and watching her beading. She gives me a disgusted look when the intro to “Method Man” comes on.

The fresh new site for the Office for Fellowships and Preprofessioanl Advising kicks off my first design for 2008, but also marks my last work for Vassar. I hope there will be room for freelance project in the future.

“Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” (brilliant)

2008 will be a major change with new job, new place and new life. On January 7, I will start my new position in George Washington University School of Business as a Webmaster. The moving had already happened over the holiday break, but I am back to Vassar until the end of the week to finish up my last project. Although the new transition is exciting, life is a bit chaotic right now.

As usual, 2008 Ao Trang calendar featured twelve striking, cinematic shots of the white Ao Dai from photographer Hoai Nam. This year, however, the series is conceptualized around the theme of freedom. Accompanying each photo is a line of text written by Nam Loc. For example: “vi hai chu Tu Do… Ta mang doi luu vong…” Get a copy if you haven’t.

The live session in New York City, Birdland Club February 21, 1954 showcased the masters of hard bop at work. “Wee-Dot” is a perfect illustration. Art Blakey kicks off a series of heavy bombs on the trapset. The quintet joins in briefly before Lou Donaldson blazes his notes on the saxophone solo. Clifford Brown takes over the second solo with speed and efficiency. Then Horace Silver lays out some of the most intoxicating hard-blues phrases on the keyboard while Blakey and bassist Curley Russell anchoring the aggressive, driving rhythm. This is a must-experience album from start to finish and many savory repeats are necessary. Even the slow-burning “If I Had You” is achingly beautiful.

By leaving out the trumpet, Ron Carter’s Dear Miles, a tribute to his former boss, gives no clue of Miles Davis’s original classics. Although the rhythm quartet (bass, piano, percussion and drums) is uplifting, it lacks the artistic direction from the Prince of Darkness. The album reminds of us of how brilliant Davis was as a leader.

Adobe launched its new design. Way too slow on my old iMac.

A new theme for iLoveNgocLan.com to celebrate Ngoc Lan’s birthday. She would be 51 today.

A poem by Grace Paley