One shouldn't feel compelled to write a blog post, but here goes anyway. So the Japan plan has been moved back even further. At this point, I wonder if we're even going at all. Word from the grapevine is that the Japs have decided that we are the last Filipinos they're gonna send over and stick to their prevous Chinese workforce instead. I suppose all the hoops from the red tape has worn their patience thin.

Had a few drinks with the Palmera boys last night. We started around 6PM and as usual I left the earliest which was around 9:30; God knows what time they packed up. It was fun pinballing from various topics ranging from horse racing to politics to spiderman etc etc. We got bills up the wazoo and have just enough to cover them. And by "enough" I mean gone in a blink of an eye. Well I suppose we'll still be able to catch Spidey 3 this week. Unless we have tickets reserved, I'm sure as hell aint gonna battle it out with the crowds on opening day.

Tech Lust

I've had my eye on the Gameboy Micro and Gameboy Advance SP for some time now. I'm feeling conflicted over which one I should get. Advance SP has a bigger screen and a clamshell design (added screen protection) but needs an extra accessory to use standard headphones with it. On the other hand, Micro boasts a sleeker design, looking like a modern version of the beloved Game and Watch. It has a smaller (but reportedly sharper) screen of 51 mm (or 2 inches) compared to 74 mm (or 2.9 inches) for the GBA. It's basically a clash of form over function.

Of course Micro is prettier, but is the smaller screen and lack of screen protection (clamshell design) worth it? It does have a built in slot for standard headphones, but I'm wondering if it will be easier playing games on it. I've read about minor gripes about the mushier feel the control pad and the other buttons buttons have during gameplay. There are a couple of negligible things about Micro that don't bother me, namely that it can't play old Gameboy and Gameboy color games and that it's pricier by about 200Php. I guess the only way to decide which is best is by trying out both versions at the store.

There's this public service ad on TV preaching that voting is a way to change the state of things in the country. It went as far as implying that it could create a ripple effect of stopping the flow of workers going overseas for employment. "Nagpapaalipin sa dayuhan" (to be slaves of foreigners) is how they put it. Well that's quite lofty to say so. Working for a company here is just a local version of corporate slavery. No matter how you look at it, it still means being under the heel of somone higher up in the food chain; the color their skin is irrelevant. It sort of struck a chord with me since I'm due to fly off and work abroad before the year ends.

For sure, the right to vote to is something the people before us fought long and hard for. But my inner cynic tells me that voting now isn't really going to change a whole lot since the whole thing is probably gonna be rigged anyway. And don't even get me started on the idiocy of block voting.

The Musical Se7en Tag

Here's something interesting courtesy of E. It's a welcome diversion from the usual angsty stuff that plagues this site. The task at hand is to post seven songs and/or albums along with a brief description for each. It's optional to post a picture or link for the song/album but I put a little twist and posted a video instead.

Dig by Incubus



This song could be interpreted in many ways, and I have two takes on it. The first is that we all need someone to hang to for support in some way or another, and that there is at least one person in our lives that keeps us in check and safe from harm. On the other hand, the lyrics could have been the thoughts of a needy and overly dependent partner involved in a one-way disfucntional relationship. I'd rather go with the former though.

War Pigs by Black Sabbath

I was a Sabbath head back in high school and suddenly felt a twitch of nostalgia these past few days (hence this pick). I caught up with old times by putting a bunch of their songs on my iPod, and it really took me back. Hearing the opening riff of this song reminded me who I was as a teenager and how much I've changed (in both good and bad ways). It was somewhat of a dark period for me back then so this song kind of reflected and channeled the pointless and unecessary angst I felt at the time. It's funny to think that most people don't have what I took for granted back then, and there I was moping around feeling like I was the butt of a cosmic joke.

Before I Forget by Slipknot



This is a great effort on the band's part to evolve musically and try new things. Sticking to the winning formula isn't for them I guess, and this song still has the maggot heads banging.

Green Tinted Sixties Mind by Mr. Big



For those of my age, there has to have been one point in their lives that they listened to glam rock. This album (Lean Into it) was one of the first cassettes I owned and still listen to them now. I remember first playing this on my old faithful walkman in the sixth grade during one of the most memorable, carefree summers of my life.

Himlaya by Kastigo



A great song by a relatively new band depicting images plucked out of a dream and put into music. Hopefully one of many groups out there that will bring balance to the local music scene plagued with watered down pop drivel. This live clip doesn't do them justice so I've added an mp3 version of their live performance at Hit FM 99.5 some time ago.

Maybe by N.E.R.D.



Pharrell may look like a stereotypical rapper but there's more to his music than the customary bling that I would have steered clear of in a different context. Instead of using samplers, DJs, and what have you, they use a live band instead and that's just cool. I guess I'm just biased about making music, but it's harder work to play instruments than flipping some switches. Ironically, what really drew me to the band (aside from the live factor) was the trademark synthesizer and keyboard riffs. Besides, I've always had a thing for rock that draws heavily from funk, just like Incubus was back in the day.

Metropolis by Dream Theater

The studio version is great, but crowd's reaction to the live performance is better. As I said before, you don't know the meaning of PRO until you see the whole clip.