Gradschool Hunt

.

The hunt for a gradschool continues. I’ve been searching through Gradschools.com and About for stuff, and so far I’ve turned up five or six promising schools which offer Master’s degrees in graphic design, with a focus on interactive design and/or digital video.

I’m backing off from Carnegie-Mellon’s Human-Computer Interaction program. I don’t meet two of the three specific prerequisites for admission — programming experience and mathematical/statistics proficiency — and I have neither the time nor resources to pursue intensive training, either as a supplement to the program or on my own. Rather, I’m looking into a related program in the CMU School of Design, which seems more adequate to my goals.

Other schools considered: Art Center, New Mexico Highlands, Virginia Commonwealth, and Maryland Institute College of Art. More details soon.

Boxes

.

Seen this morning on the side of a delivery truck: Fortune Packaging Co.: The country’s finest manufacturer of boxes.

I’ll remember that next time I’m in the market for a good, solid cardboard box.

G. Cosmos – Cease and Desist Order

.

Remember G. Cosmos, the dubious Japanese home marketing scheme that’s been so prominent in Manila lately? Last week, the SEC issued a cease-and-desist order against the company, based on violations of the the local Securities Registration Code, as well as complaints by customers and reports that Genta Ogami has an overseas criminal record. So enjoy those giant Genta Ogami billboards while you still can; they may not be around much longer.

Skybiz recruits should also be wary: the FTC has levelled charges against it as a pyramid scheme. Interestingly enough, the original CNET News article has disappeared. Check the cached copy on Google for the whole scoop.

Planet of the Apes Spoilers

.

Before I watch the new Planet of the Apes, I feel it necessary to refresh my memory of the old Charlton Heston film, as the last time I saw it was as an uninterested child. Lacking a television and DVD player at home, however, I will simply have to settle for these nutshell synopses of the original movie and its sequels.

Oh, great. Well, seeing as how Ernie over here has spoiled the ending, I might as well find out how the whole thing goes. WHAT?! No half-buried Statue of Liberty?! DAAAMN YOUUU!!!

Ach! Haggis!

.

I was feeling adventurous for lunch yesterday, so girlfriend and I went to the European deli in Festival Mall Alabang, and we ordered a plate of haggis, served with brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes. It was greasy and hearty and Scottish and muttonish. Delicious!

GRE Results

.

Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement for the GRE, Krissy, Dawn, and Clarissa! I took the test, and my results were pretty good, although the Analytical section was, as expected, below average. I hate abstract reasoning logic puzzles.

Verbal: 680. (Yaaay!)

Quantitative: 600. (Um, uh… Yaaay!)

Analytical: 460. (Boooo!)

The kind of questions asked in the Analytical section: (Exact GRE question changed in respect of test confidentiality…)

Four classes (Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, and Dance Arts) are to be taken by ten students (Harold, Ingeborg, Jorge, Kelly, Larry, Mavis, Norbert, Olwen, Peter, and Qxylplx) for one semester. Anthropology is on Mondays and Thursdays from 9am to 10am and on Saturdays from 8am to 12nn. Biology and Chemistry are 4pm to 6pm on Wednesdays and Fridays respectively. Dance Arts are everyday from 5pm to 7pm. Only six slots are available per class. Every student must attend each class for two hours in a week. Qxylplx must take Biology and Dance Arts on consecutive days, with Kelly joining him in Dance Arts. Norbert must be paired with Mavis on Mondays in Anthropology or Dance. Harold and Ingeborg must enroll in the same class as Larry except on Saturday. Kelly refuses to go to class with Mavis. Given that Olwen and Mavis are pre-enrolled in Chemistry on Fridays, and Peter has pre-enrolled in Dance Arts on Wednesday, what possible schedule conditions MUST be false?

A) Mavis and Kelly in Chemistry on Wednesdays.

B) One full class of Biology on Fridays.

C) Olwen in the same class as Ingeborg on two days out of the week.

D) Harold taking Dance Arts on Saturday and sharing two afternoon classes with Peter.

E) Norbert and Qxylplx in Anthropology on Saturday.

Thoughts running through Paulo’s head at this point: Uummmm… Jeez. If you guys are going to be so picky about what classes to attend, then I don’t see why you bother coming to school to begin with. You’re all expelled. CLICK. (Wah. I want the Verbal Section.)

Clarissa: About the blue straws, well, to be honest, the drinking straws at Manang’s weren’t deep solid blue like that; they were clear with blue stripes. What really matters is the iced tea — and the free refills! :)

Seven Years

.

This weekend, ******* and I celebrate our seventh year as a couple. Happy anniversary, my luv! To commemorate this occasion, I present Index 28. The blue straw is in memory of all those Manang’s iced teas from the Ateneo cafeteria, where we discovered together that we both like to pick the bendy blue straws. :)

(And thanks to Tiff’s sister Rian for the excellent close-up photos!)

Now I must get off the net and study for my GRE, which is tomorrow. Panic.

Grazing in the green, green grass

.

The name of my site is based on the popular phrase, “How now, brown cow,” which, to my knowledge, comes from an old poem which starts, “How now, brown cow, grazing in the green, green grass.”

Update: Used in elocution teaching to demonstrate rounded vowel sounds.

I’ve never found a copy of the full poem, which I’m understandably eager to peruse. A quick search turns up only passing allusions to said text, but nothing full or pertinent. I did, however, find this cute little stanza by Alice Schertle, surprisingly evocative in its simplicity, from a children’s book titled after the phrase I so love:

The Cow, by Alice Schertle

You come across her standing there

as common as a box. As square.

Her lower jaw revolves the cud;

her hooves stand foursquare in the mud.

Come closer. View with mild surprise

the gentle softness of her eyes.

Cute, eh? Look for a cow layout sometime soon.

Answer to 9 Truths and a Lie

.

I almost forgot, in 9 Truths and a Lie, the lie is number 6.

I have two left feet, I cannot dance for peanuts, and I will not be made to embarass myself by even trying. At the high school prom, my date and I were content to talk. Actually, we didn’t talk much either; I was an awkward kid. Well, what do you expect? Dressing up like Parker Lewis and playing too many fantasy role-playing games were not exactly socializing factors. But at least I could whup you good with a Level 4 Summon Lightning. Assuming the dice rolled right.

And yes, I do use women’s deodorant. Rexona Confidence, because of its delightful powder-fresh scent. (I’ve been trying Rexona Fresh-Cotton Dry Stick lately, and I like it too.)

If you desire further expostulation on any other points, just ask.

(Any Incredible Hulk queries will be disregarded. Don’t make me angry. You… you wouldn’t like me… when I’m angry.)

Bring… Back… Kirk!

.

He should not have died. He did not deserve the death they gave him: bereft of honor, glory … or hope. But… it is not too late… He can still… come back.

Bring… back… KIRK!!!

*snort*

*giggle*