There wont be snow in Africa this Xmas, Second Verse

The song started hitting the radio circuit the day after I wrote the last post, and the single was released in the last few days. The new line up of artists are pretty good, I have to admit. Mr. Gweneth Paltrow/ Coldplay head, Chris Martin starts this thing off, and then come Dido, wanker supreme Robbie Williams, Fran Healy (Travis), The freak Darkness dude, Will Young (original Pop Idol winner), Jamelia (UK's poor mans Beyonce, I mentioned her before), Keane, Snow Patrol, Joss Stone, Natasha Beningfield and some others to fill in the Bananarama/The Style Council/Human League roles as fillers. Also returning is a 44 year old Bono (contrasting the 24 year hairsprayed Bono in the original), and Sir Paul McCartney playing bass, Radiohead's Thom Yorke on piano and Blur's Damon Albarn, who served tea.

So? Ehhhhh... Second verse, same as the first... just a bit more off balance and just a bit worse. Its not even close to the original. Its okay, decent if you are generous, which is a shame considering its lineage. Band Aid 20 ended up being the Save By the Bell: the New Class to the original Save By the Bell; great genes, full of potential, but ultimately toiling and dissappointing. At times, it sounds even a little bit amateur in its mixing and production; its just not put together in any way that impresses. And unless you are REALLY into music, and are aware and appreciate the UK music scene, there is not much there in terms of international star power. Bono withstanding, Coldplay and Dido are the only true International heavywieghts, and Thome York is sort of wasted, playing only the piano and doesnt even get a solo. And Blur was a paper weight. I blame it on the Darkness dude and Robbie Williams, those two are cancers in any room.

Definitely buy the single though. Its one of the best causes in the world. And the original appears on the single as well, thats worth it right there.

There wont be snow in Africa this Xmas

Christmas remarkably starts earlier each and every year; largely the motivation is maximizing commercialization of the holiday, which is unfortunate, but actually this really doesn’t bother me as much as it does some others. For me anyways, Christmas doesn’t start until I hear a certain song. Christmas starts for me the moment I hear Band-Aid’s ‘Do they know its Christmas?’. Quite possibly one of my favorite songs of all time, and definitely by and far the best Christmas tune of all time, sharing the title with Bing Crosby’s duet with David Bowie for ‘Little Drummer Boy’. Pah-rum-pa-pum-pum. And please, don’t even argue about these not being the best Christmas songs, cuz Ill kick you in the teeth.

Now I don’t know if you’ve heard, but it’s the 20th anniversary of Band-aid, and to commemorate and jump start continued charity, Sir Bob Geldof is re-releasing the song he wrote, rerecording to current day and using new artists. I don’t know about this, Im extremely dubious. Granted I haven’t heard it yet, this new, er song… it gets released in the next few days here… but I don’t know how it could possibly live up to the first one. What if they fail and just take the hatchet to it? The first one is legendary, like. Go back to 1984, and you take a young selection of artists, all in their prime or entering it and mix with living icons; the list reads out like the Yankees murderer’s row: young Boy George, young Phil Collins, young Sting, young Bono, pre-gay George Michael, hotter than the sun Duran Duran, legend David Bowie, legend Paul McCartney, hotter than the sun Eurythmics, and legend Kool and the Gang… like how can you possibly go wrong. And topping it off with sugar, there’s Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bananarama , like dang. Spandau Ballet and Human League was there too… just for good measure (not to diminish their impact, but I think they needed the last few just to fill up the recording room). And lets not forget one important thing, the first one was not at all contrived (like, say, We are the World), this song was recorded in one day, over a 24 hour period, and they managed to capture lightning in a bottle. At any rate, the new version has some big pants to fill. In my opinion, there hasn’t been a memorable cover of any song in the last few decades, save Faith No More’s rendition of Lionel Ritchies ‘Easy (Like Sunday Morning)’, and that only worked because it came out of left field, and was totally unexpected.

There are not many things I am passionate about, but this Christmas song is one of them. I hope they don’t screw it up.

Celtic Tiger

Its the talk of the Country... Ireland with its strong economy and strong family-based societal fabric, has been acknowledged as having the best "quality of life" in the world. And not because I say so, but the Economist magazine said so in its latest issue. Believe me though this is funny because, apparently, no one asked any of the Irish. The guys at work are laughing their ass off, laughing so uncontrollably that their irish coffee is coming out through their noses. They think that this whole thing must be some sort of cruel joke. In the Economist study, apparently there wasnt a category for "yearly sunlight average", "traffic congestion", "affordable electronics and consumer goods", "healthcare competence", "high speed internet infrastructure", "percentage of drivable roads wider than 2 meters", "warm housing","drunkards per capita", "boy bands per capita", "sheep shaggers per capita", "quantity of ski worthy mountains" and "access to the iTunes music store" .... Believe-you-me, if there was, their average would take a pummelling, and these are the things that the combined worldwide popularity of Guiness, Jameson, Baileys, St. Patricks Day, Colin Farrell, Enya and U2 cant make up for.

Ka-hay sent me this article from the Guardian, which in my view, has the true finger on the pulse of the Irish. Its good craic. I pissed myself laughing reading it, because being here, I get the inside joke. I say it all the time; Ireland rules! Stupid, Ireland.

Cornbread and Collared Greens

My friend Chi-ing bought me one of the coolest gifts Ive ever got a few years ago; The Sopranos Cookbook. It was such a nice surprise because somehow she knew it was something I really liked, even though I never mentioned anything about it, like ever. Itd like to say that it lead me to cook more, but actually, hahahaha, no. I cooked some pasta and "Gravy" once from the great book but that was about it. Other than that, I would make the occasional Chicken Adobo with coconut milk (thanks Anne-Marie) but that was rare, and more usually my meal preparation was like Nicole being stuck in a blow-up balloon factory; that is get through it as quick as humanly feckin possible. Not that being in Vancouver helped. I was profoundly ambivalent when utilizing the frying pan and garlic press, and Ill blame this one on a group of friends that felt that there was no need for cooking when Vancouver had mutiple outfits where food could be bought and prepared for you. And it was bad form and deeply insulting to these establishments if we didnt exhibit any patronage. Didnt want to be rude. Nevermind that grocery shopping was effort in itself.

Dundalk, Ireland, the small country town that keeps me, has changed my cookings ways huge though. I now cook, more often than not. And the wierd thing is, its not because Im trying to impress some girl, which used to be the sole reason i would put any effort in the kitchen in the first place. Its actually stupid Rachel Ray and her Meals in 30 minutes. Its like she is showing off or something... now I watch her and write things down furiously, just like how my Lola did when she watched "Wok with Yan".

And actually another reason I cook more is because MacDonalds taste like crap out here. I know, nuff said. Fries are soggy even... disgraceful.

ZeD TV

I was chatting with Trish, and she introduced me to Ziya. Ziya Tong. She is the host of ZeD, the alternative media and culture show on CBC (Weeknights, 11:30ish). Canada is lucky. You get to watch this one almost everyday. And she is totally hot. And hip, smart. She lives in Vancouver, too. Which means its totally conceivable to run into her while chilling, sipping cocktails at the Opus Hotel or cabbage patching on the dancefloor to 'Lose my Breath" at Atlantis? Its a little overwhelming. I havent had the priviledge to watch yet, so when I come home during Xmas, there will be a 100% chance I will be watching latenight CBC as a prelude to Jimmy Kimmel Live. Ziya could very well be the coolest thing on CBC, now that it lacks Don Cherry's Coaches Corner. And check out the wicked cool name... its too much. Ziya, Shannyn. Shannyn, Ziya.

Running Up That Hill

There are several lessons that I seem to never learn from. One that is very apparent at this time in particular: never take naps past 6PM. I always forget this one. Dumb. I fail this lesson almost as often as 'I' before 'E' except after 'C'. And unlike poor spelling, the affects are deadily. But I cant help it sometimes. Im Filipino... and we take naps. Today I mistakenly fell asleep on my bed at 7PM. It was a deep one I lulled into as well, cuz I awoke, definitely convinced it was 3am or so. Groggily looking at the clock however was like a stomach punch.. it was only 10PM. Im screwed.

Im definitely paying for it now. Right at this moment, its 6:30AM, I havent slept since and my awakeness is so wide, it might as well be Star Jones. I know 6:30! Its retarded... and peeps I was msning thought it was bad enough 3 hours ago. Huh, well look at me now. And Lorrie just reminded me people that dont sleep well wrinkle up like Chinese Sharpei dogs. Damnit to hell... cuz thats got to be true.

So, dont take naps past 6PM. Just like girls, they are deceptively evil.

Random thoughts while I watch Big

Its Sunday, and instead of doing work from home, Im watching Big. Awesome movie, a favorite, especially since its highlights FAO Schwartz. Im lazy right now so Ive decided to post in bullet form while I watch; well not lazy, but say more efficient... yuh...

- I miss Gelato. Ive tried every combo avaliable in Italy, and nothing tops the Banana / Cioccolato Combo. Nothing. There hasnt been such a seemless tag-team since Tito Santana hooked up with Rick Martel to form Strikeforce. Arriba..

- I have a new vice here in Ireland. Its the Lucozade drink. Take everything good in the world, add caffeine and orange food coloring with carbonation... and you have a innocuous yet addictive drink. Then add alcohol. Holeh... I drink it more than coffee, more than water, more than pop.

- If you own a laptop, have you ever been tempted to use your computer while youre using the toilet? Uh... me neither... just wondering...

- Oh Piano scene is on... this is good...

- First thing Im going to do when I get back to Vancouver is eat Sushi. Lots of it. Until I get sick. And then repeat. Everyday.

- Need to go to Seattle too. I need to go to the Fox Sports Grill. Need to simultaneously watch 5 different sports games on HDTV Plasma screens while eating Natchos. I need to do this. I decided when I was stuck on the couch friday night watching professional European league Bacci Ball, drinking Tea.

- Bush won the election last week. But really does that matter when Jessica Alba is in Vancouver right now, filming a movie?

- Speaking of which, apparently Jessica is seeing Derek Jeter. Doesnt she know that he's gay? Im not too sure if Derek's boyfriend, Jorge Posada is much too pleased.

-"Neh!" is my favorite Greek word. You sound like a sheep, thats why. Hahahahaha... Next time you go to Stefos, when they ask if you want any appetizers, responds by saying "Neh!". Trust me, itll be cash money...

- Halloween was last week, I am now officially one of "those" guys. "Those" guys that turn off all the lights and pretend they are not home, so they can keep all the Candy for themselves. Ive done this 4 years in a row.

- Always listen to your parents because you are never too old to be chased around with a walis for pok pok.

- My new pick up moves while on the pull will need to include some sort of praise for the girl's "structure and reception". Cant possibly go wrong...

- The Utah Jazz will make it to the Western Conference Finals. The only way San Antonio beats them is if San Antonio starts playing in "Red White and Blue" Rocky Shorts. Otherwise theres no way your taking down Ivan Drago.

- LA Lakers, much to my delight, will not make the NBA Playoffs.

- One Tree Hill will win the emmy for best drama, narrowly nudging out the OC.

- Milan, Paris,London Fashion, and the hot Australian retail chick at FCUK Grafton tells me that Turquoise is the new Black. (No not Teal, yucks. Turquoise, totally different) Girls take note, get ahead of the game. Also the must have fashion accessory is see-thru bra straps.

- Last but not least, my opinions are not to be trusted. I put tilapia in my pancit and coffee creamer in my chocolate rice. What? Who? I know right! What do I know? I dont know shit about shit. I can't boil eggs for shit. I misplace puctuation marks and quotations all the time. But trust me about the see-thru bra straps.

-Latesz (Its mine JM. MINE)

Courtship

I woke up this morning with a great deal of trepidation but still adequately hopeful. I saw the news though, and quickly gained a heavy heart, along with most of the world, notwithstanding 48% of Americans. On TV, lots of people were actually crying. Its hard to explain, but Im right sad myself. And not because I believe the apocalypse is among us, or that the world as a result will get even worser, (far from actually, and yes worser is a word, my word), but mostly because there is suddenly a lack of accountability when accountability was all the rest of the world world was looking for. In its place was a vote for "moral christian values" and "security". nice....

To cheer myself up, I went to an old standby: an email from my friend Michelle. She works at the American Embassy in Ghana, West Africa. I thought Id share, you might get a kick out of it, Ka-hay sure will. (By the way, she is originally from and registered in Ohio, and she was one of the Absentee ballots. Not even counted, I bet)

Enjoy -->
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So, I've been coordinating a counter-narcotics training here over the
past several weeks (as the 'drugs-n-thugs' officer for this post) and
we needed some training manuals printed. GSO found a local printer,
got a quote, so I sent the materials over. The guy came over with the
proofs to show them to me, we had about a 3-minute business-related
conversation about them, and then he left. Manuals were printed and
delivered, end of story - so I thought. Then, today, I got a card in
the mail from him. Here is the content, verbatim:

"Hi Michill,

How is your day? I hope is fine. The first day I saw you at the lobby
my heart was filled with joy. You look so beautiful, just my heart
desire.

I really like your structure and reception. [What am I, a building??]

Would you please find a place in your heart for me.

I wish to express my full love to you.

Reply soon. -David, Maxi Class [the name of the company]

* Are you married?
* I am married, but..."


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Ghanian dudes are silky SMOOOOOTH... with a minimum five 'O's, everytime. Theres no competition...