Past Myst

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Myst is a phenomenon like no other in the world of CD-ROM. That’s not a remarkable statement; CD-ROM is too new to have already had many phenomena. Mostly it’s had complaints and dire predictions — it’s too slow, it’s too expensive, it’s too clunky.

Guerrillas in the Myst. (Aug 1994) From Wired, a blast from the past; when the first Myst game had just been released and 4x CD-ROM drives were still an expensive novelty. Did you know the game’s creators were Christians, kids of a preacher?

“I guess the simple way is to say that we know how much work it took to create Myst, and how puny and unreal it is compared to the real world, and therefore how miraculous all of creation is. Matching our experience … it just makes us realize how great God is.”

There are copies of all three episodes of the game lying about the house; I’m looking forward to dusting them off and playing again.

Zamboanga Bombing

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Hot on the heels of the Bali bombing, two bombs exploded in two separate shopping complexes in Zamboanga, Southern Philippines, killing at least five and injuring over a hundred. Seven more bombs were reportedly found and defused.

The people killed were not combatants or soldiers; they had nothing to do with Islamic separatists or any other extremist rebels in the country, for or against. And someone killed them anyway. I can’t find words.

(If there are any Mindanao-based bloggers reading, please do comment or trackback your entries on this so we know what’s up over there.)

Why-Fie

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How do you pronounce “Wi-Fi?” I’ve been saying “wee-fee,” but the guys at work just told me that it should be “why-fie.” No wonder I get odd looks from other techies. Doesn’t anyone else say “wee-fee?”

(And should question marks punctuating sentences which end in quotes be placed outside or inside the ending quote marks?)

I’m not normally a bars-and-clubs type of person, but since I’m bored and lonely tonight, I’m taking up a classmate’s invitation to a Cultureflux event at 18th Street Lounge. Let’s see how it turns out.

Teeny Flirting on the Subway

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This morning on the subway: cute girl separates from her giggling gaggle, and plops down on the chair beside me. She is quite pretty: young, black, mid to late teens. She smiles and says, “Hi!” — almost as though greeting a five-year old.

I grin back. “Hi,” I say with mock shyness.

“So how old are you?” she asks, still smiling. This is beyond flirting!

My grin is even wider. “I’m twenty-six.”

Her eyes as big as dinner plates. “Oo-okay, you too old!”

“I sure am!” And I laugh heartily.

As I get off at my stop, she has rejoined the giggling gaggle. She waves at me through the closing doors. “Bye, boyfriend!”

I’m tempted to respond, “Bye, pootie-pie!” But I just give my most winning smile and head for school, only one thought running through my head: Yaks, malandi!

Haberdi `Tol!

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Happy 19th birthday to my little- er, younger brother Raymond, who also seems to be the 34th ranking “Candy Cutie.” Naks naman, `tol.

Why don’t you Pinoy texters out there give his CandyMag rating a boost by SMS’ing CANDY QT VOTE Raymond Ordoveza to 2333 (Globe) or 211 (Smart)? Let’s see if the Pinoy blogosphere has enough power to make a celebrity out of him for his birthhday. O diba?

Labs na labs

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Thanks to everyone who emailed, texted, or commented birthday greetings! This is probably the loneliest, least birthday-ish birthday I’ve ever had, but you all made it a bit brighter with every inbox ping and cellphone message beep.

After a quick jaunt home to nap, I’m back here in the lab. I’ve finished the Soylent Green typography project, and am watching Dr. Strangelove on DVD while the thing renders. Funny movie; Peter Sellers is a top-notch comedian, mein Führer!

Ungodly Hours

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It’s 3.40 in the morning, and I’m sitting here in the Digital lab by the glow of my Mac monitor, having worked all night on a Typography project, with only a beer and a jelly krumpet sitting in my stomach as dinner. To ease the monotony, I take occasional jaunts into Habbo Hotel.

This is sooo surreal. And I haven’t even finished the project yet.

Happy Birthday Wendy!

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Also be sure to greet Wendy W, with whom I share a birthday. She and Brandon are currently roaming the happy, happy, slanted streets of San Francisco.