1910 artists' depiction of the year 2000

Home Cooked Craving - Filipino Breakfast -

Woke up this morning with a craving for Filipino breakfast.  First off, I want to disclose I live a very veggie friendly/heavy diet.  7 days of the week  I eat heavily on greens and a variety of non-meat proteins.  Not quite vegetarian, but pretty much only eat meat if someone has gone out of there way to prepare it for me; not gonna turn a generous gesture down.  Plus, I think my Filipino DNA prevents me from going full vegetarian :P

So, to justify my cooking a meat dinner for myself, I took a walk to the local Filipino store to gather the main ingredients. Longganisa (a sweet, garlic-y, pork sausage), bitter-melon (a bitter melon :p), bagoong (tiny salted shrimp paste) and rice vinegar.  Also picked me up some shrimp crackers, coconut water, and Hawaiian sweet buns.

Hawaiian sweet bun; grew up with the plain, but these are honey wheat.  still tasty, but nothing beats the original.

Coconut water.  I find funny that the western market is totally just now jumping on this, selling small oz. containers for an arm and-a-leg.  Asian markets been selling 'em in large cans for a dollar or less since forever...

Oh, and shrimp chips (couldn't pass these up); def a thing you have to grow up with I think.  Found these ones spicy!!!

PINOY BREAKFAST -  My Attempt

I'm using a long grain rice which will be less sticky than what I'd rather, but is what I have on hand.

Gotta start by cleaning your rice like a good Filipino.  Rinse and drain 2-4 times to get rid of any dirt/dust and excess starch.

 Follow the water-line marker relative to the how many cups of rice you used; or me, the good-ol'-knuckle tip.  Barely touch the surface of the rice an fill slightly above first knuckle.

 Like the infomercial says: "Set it and forget it".

 Here dem tasty sausages, Longganisa.  If you know an old Filipino lady who makes these, talk to her.  Unfortuately on a whim, gotta suffice with the store bought, but still will hit the spot I'm sure :)

Give 'em a nice rinse and cut apart.

Drop in a pre-boiling pot and reduce to a healthy simmer and halfway cover to allow some evaporation.

Time to cut the bitter-melon.  Cut in half and gut the seed and middle pulp.  Cut into coins and half those.  Set aside.

 Smash and mince some garlic

After the water has reduced a bit drain, but leave a little of the juices left to evaporate out and let those puppies fry a bit to get that nice browning and glaze on the outside.

Next, drop the bitter-melon in with some oil and add the garlic a spoon full of bagoong and a splash of rice vinegar; let simmer and reduce, turning occasionally.

 On to the eggs.  Have to point out, these have to be hard fried the pinoy way.  relatively high heat and never flipping.  Gotta have the semi-soft yolk, but the crispy bottom and edging of the white part; just something about that contrast in texture, espcially with the rice...  mmm.

 Check the bitter-melon and set aside

Eggs should be done too.

 TA-DA!!

 Bon appetite 

 Also good to have a side of vinegar for dipping.

 Here's all the fixings together.  Nothing beats waking up at a cousin's house with an auntie cooking this in the morn.  Definitely something lost in my translation, especially in the bitter-melon recipe, but think I did a descent facsimile on the whole.

Well, I think that'll satisfy my meat craving for a while.  Next time I hope to break my streak at an actual family gathering; I will be going back for 4th's or more when that day comes.  Enjoy and hope this got you mouth watering.  Are there any dishes, cultural or not, that get you nostalgia bug in your gut going?  If so please comment and share your story.   

Rare glimpse into an illegal Iranian Rave

Posted by YouTuber DaBoing, this video shows a glimpse into the rave scene of Iranian youth.  Under government and religious law is considered illegal.  Regardless of clashing cultural or religious beliefs, I personally I find the conviction of the Iranian youth to seek expression and enjoyment thru "western" means inspiring.  Perhaps one day ideas and actions like these won't be thought of as "western", but rather the enjoyment of the human experience.

On a side note:  Though often times police are able to be bribed, it is often that the police are out on the look for such parties in search of said bribes.



http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/12ispu/illegal_rave_party_in_iran/c6veqtl

Halloween/Dios de la Muerte 2012 - face paint

Rain City Brew - Nov 2012 show submissions - Alex Pascual

Here are my pieces for the Rain City Brew art and home brew show happening Nov 4th.  Both pieces are obviously inspired by old-school 8-bit art.  To add to the vintage feel, gave the pieces a worn box look, with  wear-n-tear, stains, and period appropriate "price" stickers.

event info:

http://seattlebeernews.com/2012/10/beer-as-art-stache-bash-homebrew-competition-tasting-art-show-on-sunday-november-4/

past RBC events/art:

2010 - Hopsession Vicotrian & Batman

http://seattlebeernews.com/2010/03/beer-is-art-homebrew-inspired-art/

2011 - Black Mamba Mango and Hop Springs Eternal Whey Pilsner:

http://raincitybrew.com/past-events/

2012

I am the Lorax Basil Honey Beer

Ape Hanger Harley Black Barley Wine

event details (not my work):

Siskid - Gun Stubs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3wynxtxEzo

http://www.telerama.fr/musique/bien-ou-bien-la-playlist-electro-181-recoit-david-shaw,88563.php

soasig-chamaillard: sculpture artist

http://www.soasig-chamaillard.com/sculpture-sainte-vierge-galerie

I grew up in a Christian Western society. My perspective on life has been a result of my environment and background.

The playful interaction of society’s many icons, physical transformations, and the resulting improbable combinations, have culminated in my vision of a woman’s role and place in our society.
This inner questioning of a woman’s role, has led me to use one of the most sacred icons in my work, namely, the Virgin Mary.
Initially, I begin with damaged statues, either donated or discovered in garage sales, which I then restore and transform.

I surely do not mean to chock those who believe but rather to move those who see.

I can relate to this artist's aesthetic.  Having grown up in a Catholic environment my self from the upbringing and tradition in my family and 13 years of Lutheran, Catholic, and Jesuit school combined, the grotesque and morbid images of western religion permeate my mind.  

The juxtaposition of pop-culture and religion with these sculptures blend the iconic-ism of both ideas of nostalgia and spiritual worship.  The ambiguity blends the idea of what people idolize with imagery and challenge their validity and/or importance.

I have a few religiously based tattoos; a Frida Kahlo Virgin Mary and a seraphim angel.  As it is, I am an atheist, basing my morality on reality, emotion, and experience rather that based in a traditional western spirituality.  But with my upbringing I can't help but be engrossed in the imagery of the Catholic imagery of my childhood.  It is ingrained in me as such that they have this aesthetic relevance.