Yep

I'm going to revive this old thing. More soon!

Livres du mois

So... His Dark Materials trilogy was.... nice. Extremely well written. I see why Pullman won awards for it. And that's about it... I never really understood how the supposed significance of some characters came into play. Bah...

I also finished Across the Nightingale Floor. This is the 1st book of the Tales of The Otori by Lian Hearn. It was extremely entertaining and very very easy to read. Now, I have to finish some other books I had on hold before I jump back to this series. But I'm really looking forward to reading Grass for His Pillow (the 2nd part).

Right now I'm about a third of the way through The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy. Very good and also very graphic. Unfortunately some of the "cop slang" from the 40's is lost on me... But so far... a very intriguing story. This is the same author who wrote LA Confidential... which I haven't read, but might if the Dahlia delivers as I have been promised...

And this weekend, a good friend let me borrow El Juego del Angel by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. An amazing Spanish author who wrote La Sombra del Viento. An excellent read.

So there! I hope everybody had a good 4th!!!

Books update!

Trying to get the blog going a bit more....

For the most part, I find traditional Japanese literature quite hard to grasp. Specially since, as with most Japanese cultural aspects, the subtleties and nuances of the work represent and/or mean something else. And my lack of proper knowledge on understanding these subtleties still gets me lost.

Luckily, a good friend of mine and his wife pointed me in a very good direction with contemporary author Haruki Murakami. INCREDIBLY smart writer. He balances fictional and factual remarkably well. I'm impressed with this guy.

I bought:





This is a small collection of short stories by Murakami. An excellent introduction to his work. I haven't enjoyed a book from a Japanese author so much since I discovered (by accident) Kawabata's Thousand Cranes.

So, strongly recommended.

Also, I'm 3/4 of the way done with Pullman's The Golden Compass from the His Dark Materials Trilogy of books. Yet another gifted writer. Good flow, engaging and entertaining. I'm having a lot of luck with books this year!

I should say I was forewarned about the trilogy not being as engaging as a whole, but I reserve judgement until I'm done.





READ!
m.

Recent Mention-worthy Musical Discoveries...

1) Paramore - RIOT!


This girl can SING!



2) The Hives - The Black and White Album


Really, what else do you need in your player?



3) Trilok Gurtu & Robert Miles - Miles_Gurtu (COLLABORATION)


This is a bit of an acquired taste... but it's amazing non the less.


...to be continued.

*edit: I can't wait for third (by Portishead) ... I have high expectations for that one!

6 Years

It's important to me, since I grew up in a country that had to deal with terrorism for decades, to pause for a moment and reflect about the meaning of Sept 11th. Also, to think about what has really happened here and abroad since that horrible morning back in 2001.

But mainly, I hope this is a date will always remind people of the things that really matter: tolerance, understanding and the ability to learn from others and their perspectives.

Mau.

So...

This year has been a year of change. Good ones at that!! Went home after waaaay to long... Saw Machu Picchu for the 2nd time in my life and it's still as AMAZING as I remembered it. Got to see almost all of my closests friends. Most of them looking quiet grown up! Also, Kim and I are going to Ohio to visit my in laws in Sept. And I'm still clinging to my idea of going to Japan in Nov (wallet permitting...)

The main change has been the professional focus. I decided some of my personal goals were being pushed back too much based on finances (arrrrg money!!) So I made up my mind and switched back to my 2nd trade, which is business. So far it has worked out INCREDIBLY well. And it has allowed me to reconsider the actual possibility of buying a home in CA... which is, by today standards, no small feat.

Animation is still a passion and I am not willing to give it up. I just rather do it on my own... to full fill my own visions and prospects, rather than working on somebody else's goals. And all this tumult has kept me away from the blog, the artistic circle and from posting on other people's blogs. Some of those blogs are no more! And that was sad to see... but hey, we've all got things to do and sometimes the internerd needs to be pushed back... Life goes on.

Regardless, I want to post some tests I have worked on. I'll put them on youtube and then I'll share them here. That way I can force myself to stay "sharp". Art can be so ungrateful when you neglect it...

In the meantime, my little "semi-regular" blog goes on...

Long time no see... or write

I've been away for a good while, but updates are coming!
PROMISE!!!

Happy New Year!!!

May 2007 bring peace, joy and success!! (and good music, good movies, good concerts...etc etc etc) Speaking of good movies, finally saw Happy Feet... LOVED it.

Said it for a while...

#1 at the box office?

Happy Feet.

Always back to the basics...

I was struggling with a bit of work last week and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why on earth it wasn't "working"... I liked the timing, the spacing was good... but something was wrong... it felt wrong. So I left the scene on stand by for a couple days (it's always good to keep your eyes fresh).

When I went back to it I figured out why. And yet again, I had to slap myself in the forehead. I wasn't paying attention to the rules. I got caught up in the details and forgot the structure. My contact poses were not hitting on a straight. Bah!

So today's reminder is... legs always hit contact positions on a straight...
Gotta love animation.

mau.

Oooohh Yeah!

Their 3rd album is coming!

It's a happy happy day!!

Clicky

mau

Pretty in Pink

Kim and I volunteered as crew for the 2006 Avon Breast Cancer Walk. We will be part of the Gear and Tent Team. It's pretty exciting and I'm really looking forward to it! Even though we start tomorrow at about 5am and pretty much don't stop until Sunday night. Definitely worth it though. Hopefully there will be time to snap some pics.

mau.

Do Not Forget

Never forget.

James Baxter Rough Animation

This is some of the work of my teacher's teacher.

!!



mau

This is awesome!

clicky

mau.

I've been saying it all along...

This movie is going to be amazing~!

Happy Feet

Go check Trailer #3

mau.

Oh man...

This is hillarious



thx JKrew

One of the things that's been keeping me busy

www.mauriciovasquez.net

It's not too fancy, but I'm happy... for now.
Besides that, que calor!!

mau.

VAMOS VAAAMOS!!!

Argentinaaaaa!!!

6-0!!!

Japan - Australia

What a Game!!!

Australia scored 3 goals in the last 6 minutes!!!

amazing.

mau.