The Spring & Summer 2008 issue of L’Officiel Hommes Spring Summer 2008 is a keeper if you love fashion photography. Like the cover states, there’s 200 pages of fashion featuring supermodel Jon Kortajarena.

The crazy concept works because he changes his look for EVERY fashion spread. One spread has Jon with a full beard while the next one is his usual intellectual, preppy vibe. He isn’t good in every shot but with the constant changes, most of them work. If they ever try this concept with Evan Soldati or Allesandra Ambrosia, I will go bonkers. They’re my favorite models (and they’re both Brazilian!).

At first I was concerned that only one photographer was used (Milan Vukmirovic), but the spreads really show an ease and comfort between the model and the photographer. The camera really focuses on Jon--there are no memorable camera effects or overly staged settings.

The settings run the gamut and my favorite spread in terms of fashion and setting is "Sunday Morning". The bright pieces set against a modern (Palm Springs?) home really nails 2008.

My copy looks like it’s already several years old from thumbing and having it with me for quick looks. I’ve even had hot water spilled all over it. It’s a total keeper and I’m happy with it like a good, worn pair of jeans.

I tabbed 13 pages of interest...usually the start of a fashion spread because it would be ridiculous to try and narrow down 200 photo spreads to favorites.

THE GOOD: Great concept of using one model and photographer. Tons of poses for reference. A huge variety of looks from the clothes, hair and settings.

THE BAD: If you don’t like Jon, you won’t like the issue. The articles pale in comparison to the shoots. All the photos seem the same after a few spreads.

Featuring Eric Bana on the cover, the March 2008 issue of GQ Magazine is the usual thick Spring issue. From now until Fall, GQ thins out until the big Winter issue hits. That said, this is the one issue to get for the season.

All the advertising heavyweights are in it with promo sections and new ad campaigns. Everyone from Bloomingdale’s to Converse is showing off their new duds.

Following current retail trends, the issue pushes dressier styles at casual level. In other words, this means wearing nice suiting with sneakers, etc.

I enjoyed the Milo photo shoot but it’s the new ads that shine.

I tabbed 21 pages of interest (usually cool photos).

THE GOOD: Milo’s sleek photo shoot, the new ads, the "Manual" section featuring dressier duds.

THE BAD: Nothing memorable in terms of articles. The fashion outlook is way too dressy.

Sorry I haven't changed my profile in ages--I've been really busy with work, the gym and making art. I promise changes are coming very soon...hold on tight.

I posted this blog since I really had to get some things out there....

MY FRIENDS ROCK!!! I attended a great wedding between my friends Vihn and Angel at the Callaway Vineyards in Temecula, California. It was a very memorable time but what I'll never forget was what happened afterwards. Since I had too much of the free (and awesome) wine, my friends were concerned about me driving all the way back to San Diego. We stopped by an Albertson's Supermarket and basically chilled out on some tables by the junk food and cookies aisle. We were there for nearly an hour just talking about random stuff. I couldn't believe that I could have such great friends that really look out for me and that I was content just sitting around in a supermarket with them. I'll revisit that night in my memories for many years.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE!!! I can't tell the details yet, but on Friday night, all alone at a Starbucks, I was hit with the epiphany that listening to your heart and working hard for what you want are really rewarding in the long run. Not rewarding in monetary or fame terms, but just being at peace with your self.

I don't know if there's a real afterlife, but I do know that if we move on somewhere else with our "selves" intact, we'll be able to take our memories with us.

If you ever have to choose between making memories now or putting something off for the future...go with the memories.

OK...back to Guitar Hero 2...I mean work...

It's been a crazy few weeks since my last entry. I've got a constant smile pasted on my face with all the stuff happening around me. Some quick notes...

--Finally hit 26 miles in one day! On December 2, I did 26.35 miles in 3 hours & 46 minutes. I believe the old qualifying time for the Boston Marathon was 3 hours, 40 minutes. I'm sure I can work on this time if I work on my pace and try running on a flat area. I'll never forget the run. I traveled from Downtown San Diego, to University past the 15 freeway. From there I made my way into Balboa park and I ended my run on Broadway after enjoying the Convention Center, Seaport Village and the Star of India. Now I feel like I can do anything and my mind is dizzy trying to figure out what to do next--surf? skateboard? snowboard? become a DJ? Words escape me...I didn't get any cramps or suffer any pain. I even went out that night to enjoy some great House music.

--I beat Phil in the Nike+ iPod 120 mile challenge. I did it in two weeks. What's cool with Nike is they declared us both winners after Phil finished his 120 miles. I seriously don't feel like I'm 37.

--I looove to dance. Ever since I danced to Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" for a school show at the age of five, I've been hooked to dance floors. I try to hit one at least twice a week. It helps that I had a great time during the Rave scene. I don't care if the dance floor is empty...just play something with a beat and I'll be happy. Very happy.

--I'm having a great time doing a lot of freelance work. I haven't been able to work on my profile as much--as soon as my schedule clears, I'll have this page done. I've slipped some new stuff in (that you probably haven't noticed). The Newsweek photo is actually a Flash file that loads a random photo each time. Stuff like that....

--I try and make time each day to play a few videogames. Zelda, Phantasy Star, and Ridge Racer 6 are rocking my world.

Oops...I wrote a book.

-Mel

I've never been so "aware" in my life in the past few weeks.

Tonight I ran in the evening with a chill wind on my face. It was a blast. Literally. In list form:

--I've come to realize how special Buddhist views are. I read an eye-opening article on Buddhism and science. In a nutshell, it's not really a religion but a way of being aware of reality. Kind of like knowing you're in the/a matrix of some form. I love the notion of our real selves being in another world/state and not being attached to the physical. I like the view of death as a transition to something else and rebirth as a continuation of a proccess. The clincher for me--reading a quote from the Dalai Lama where he basically states that if science can refute anything that is part of the tenets of Buddhism, they will change their views/beliefs to go with what science finds. A very positive view of the state of things...

--I've been running like mad lately to defeat Phil in a Nike Challenge to see who can get to 120 miles first. At 37 years old, I've grown to realize that the physical is just as important as the mental. You can't emphasize one over the other since they work in tandem in our universe. I hope to get any youngster that I love into this mindset--it won't be that hard. My nephew Mason just got "Outstanding Athelete" at his school. I wish I was in this mindset when I was only 16. I'm doing this challenge against my cousin Phil, not because I will easily beat him, but because I'm really proud that he can even do this at his age.

--In the realm of senses, I've been enjoying a ton of great new music, videogames, and artwork. Because of the holidays, the videogame scene is like a Casino buffet. I'm hooked on Phantasy Star Univers (Xbox 360), Lost Planet (360), Zelda (Nintendo Wii) and Ridge Racer 6 (360). My ears can't get enough of Phoenix, the Rapture, Jet, Jamiroquai, and Justin Timberlake. Even though my profile takes awhile to load, I'd love to add graphics showing the latest games that I'm playing. During my run, I even entertained the notion of getting back into DJing. In high school, I spun New Wave at dances...

--This profile is almost done! I just have to post the last of my artwork, finalize the top banner, finalize my real friends, post the "One Day In LA" video, and plan a myspace party.

....But first, I have to kick Phil's ass in the Nike Challenge...

Gamer Geek Stuff...

I picked up an X-Box 360 last weekend just to play Phantasy Star Universe. I love the way you can download game demoes and media. I'm actually playing the Lost Planet Demo (Capcom) more than Phantasy Star....

At work today, I hooked up the 360 to a nice HDTV. I nearly fell over playing Ridge Racer at such a nice resolution. Can't wait to try Gears Of War.

As for the Wii, I reserved one with Zelda a few weeks back and I paid it off tonight for...$22! Since the Wii is fully backwards compatible with the Gamecube and the 360 plays most X-Box games, I traded in the two systems for credit towards my Wii. Plus, I got rid of games I know that I will never touch again.

I should do the same thing with clothes...(all of my old pants fall right off).

OK...back to Lost Planet--I mean, Phantasy Star Universe...

This has been one of my craziest months...

I've been on cloud 9 since I ran 21 miles. Some notes about that crazy run: I was absolutely fine at 20 miles, but my small calves and my ankles started to cramp and randomly lock as I hit Downtown San Diego. I wanted to get to the convention area by the bay for my final five miles, but everytime I cramped, I'd get stuck in position. I couldn't risk cramping on a crosswalk--that would have been the funniest sight--an old, fat Filipino runner blocking traffic because he can't move his ass accross the street. Anyways, I stopped at 21 and I still can't believe I ran that far.

On Thursday, I had THE GREATESTTESTEST (yes a triple-"EST") shopping day of my life. I went to the opening of the H&M Store at the Beverly Center in Beverly Hills. Not only was it a store opening, but a clothing line by hip designers Victor & Rolf was being launched that day worldwide. After waiting two hours with Ryana Hong, I finally got into the store. It was pure bliss as I perused rows and row of cheap-ass metrosexual-Euro clothing. Some people make drunk calls--I make shopping frenzy calls. I hit speed dial to several folks and went on and on about the ew H&M store being the greatest place on earth. I spent $436 with a $199 Victor & Rolf trench coat as the most expensive piece. I almost returned on Saturday to get more goods but that was the day I decided to....

...finally pick up my Xbox 360. Even with a layoff looming in the future, I had to finally pick up a unit to play Phantasy Star Universe. As off this writing, I haven't started, but I like to light up my crack when I know I have a good block of time to enjoy it. I have enjoyed...

...posing like a stupid chimp model for new myspace photos. Hopefully as your read this, my new icon is online. Basically, I want to do a "Mel in Space" kind of icon with nebulas, stars, rings and radioactive glows. Vanity really kills but hopefully it will pay my bills.

Oops, I wrote a book.

This weekend was a great rush, not just physically, but mentally. I feel like a ton of thoughts have gone through my membrain.

Juiced up in my creative thinking, I had a blast working on an illustration for an Evanescence ad. I ran only 16 miles on Saturday so I could get back quickly to work on it. Saturday was a day of brainstorming and researching while all the actual work was on Sunday. Much love to Joe for giving me the chance to do the artwork. We go all the way back to 1989-90. He's one of the coolest dudes I've ever met.

I read an interesting science article yesterday. I'll digg up the link, but in a nutshell, it proposes that our universe/reality is simply one dream/simulation--kind of like one big computer program. Of course this computer is way beyond our ability to comprehend. The article noted that there's way too many "close-calls" in our reality to be random. Just a slight shift, in say the property of gravity and our universe would collapse. It's really hard for me to put into words how I've taken a liking to this view. There's something kind of Zen or even Jedi in believing that our reality is set up in some elaborate, thought-out system.

Maybe I've been lost in thoughts too long...

Man I love Guitars! I'm usually a sucker for songs with Synths (New Wave), etc. but it's dawning on me that a lot of my most memorable tracks have great guitar riffs.

My guitar moment of today: I reached the peak of my University Avenue run a little bit after the San Diego 805 freeway. As I turned around, Coldplay's song "Talk" had just started on my iPod. I looked over the urban landscape and it was stunning matched up to the guitar backed opening sounds. I realized how perfect everything can be--how awesome even an urban landscape can be. I didn't have to be at the Grand Canyon to feel like I was somewhere special. Then I ran all the way back home... (16 miles, 2.45 hours).

On another note, I'm really jonesing to play Phantasy Star Universe. I've decided to play either the 360 version or the PC. If I play the PC version, I'll have to wait until I get a new Mac Intel laptop (after X-Mas_. For the 360, I just have to drop some $$$ to get the console. Maybe it's good I haven't gotten it yet because I have NO time to play it right now.

OK..back to work (freelance)

Wow...I hit 20 miles in 3 hours last Saturday. I didn't feel much pain but I could swear I was on the verge of dropping dead in the last 3 miles in a detached way. There was no pain which made me wonder if that was a sign that I was going to blink out of existence soon.

My run ended perfectly by the San Diego convention center. My route took me all the way past the 805 to the 15 on University. I stopped by Balboa Park which was full of wedding photo sessions.

I've been too busy to post new stuff but I'm finally free of freelance so hopefully this profile page will be fully "done"...