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Recommended Websites

It's a lazy afternoon here at the office...not that I'm complaing.

Hey, this may sound a little too blah but I'm glad I got to see Pop Inc yesterday and today. It's been weeks since I last caught an episode!

I like the show because eventhough there's a script or outline, it's still an "anything goes" type of show and, therefore, dynamic. However, there are times when the themes they use makes it look like the producers have scraped the bottom of the barrel. It's like every dang day they're talking about Brangelina, Spederline, Lindsey Loon, TomKat, Paris Hilton, and every whoever Hollywood celebrity is in the headlines. I mean, come on, why not feature some good quality music artists for a change? It's a music channel, ain't it?

For those out there looking for music news, reviews, interviews, performances, and whatnot, I've listed a group of music websites that are worth browsing. Here's a partial helping:

• www.nme.com - stands for New Musical Express. UK's own music publication; usually gets first crack at interviews with U2, Radiohead, Coldplay, etc. on hush-hush projects
  
• www.KCRW.com - independent LA radio station. Check out the "Morning Becomes Eclectic" program which features exclusive in-studio performances from artists like Rufus Wainwright, Ani DiFranco, Ed Harcourt, etc.
  
• www.bbc.co.uk/6music - commercial-free radio that plays good music from all genres. It's the BBC, for cryin' out loud!
• www.pastemagazine.com - standard content such as music news, concert and album reviews, interviews, etc. but also focuses on books and film; slightly tamer artist line-up.

I'm sure y'all have your own music sites you visit all the time. Feel free to share the good stuff and post a comment!

WHIMSY :: Hicksville USA

Take that, McPhee! Can you say boring? Guess the cutesiness just didn't get you the mileage you expected, huh! Don't fret, brunette. Why don't you just join your cliquemate Pickle and form a sorority! Make Paula your first member, get drunk and heckle anyone who doesn't buy the crap you sell. At any rate, I hear they're lookin' for a new Ashley Simpson Show.

*aherm* Sorry about that, folks! It's just that I've held back for so long and now that she lost, I can rest easy.

Haha! Soul Patrol wins! Wooh! (throws head back)

I walked into our office this morning and found my co-writers standing in front of the TV. I knew right away they were watching the live AI finals on StarWorld. These guys are hardcore fans. For my part, I've never followed an entire AI season all the way to finals night before this one. It just got boring when my favorites left. This time, however, I was able to tune in to each episode thanks to my two officemates who have been long-time AI fans.

My picks from the Top 10 were Mandisa and Taylor. Chris, Elliot, and Paris were also tough competition while McPhee and Pickler used all variations of "bimbo" to get ahead.

Initially, I was really ticked by the results (especially when Mandisa and Paris were booted off) but I realized this is exactly how America votes. They like to keep things plain and uncomplicated...just like in the last two presidential elections. But I digress.

You could tell the fans' love for Mandisa did not wane at all because each time she got on the mic, there were screams and cheers. Really. It was THAT obvious. Go girl!

I was pleasantly surprised when Elliot sang "One" by my favorite band of all time, U2. I remember sitting at the computer and then hearing the opening riff then him going "is it getting better". I stood up and strode to the front of the tv screen. And when he called out The Queen Mary to join him, I was incommunicado.

That bit was the highlight of the program for me—more than Prince's, Meatloaf's (!!!!), Toni Braxton's, Clay Aiken's, or the Brokenote Cowboys clip (ROTFL). Of course, Taylor's winning moment was a tad emotional.

So congratulations to Soul Patrolman Taylor Hicks. Did you make me proud? Dawg, you had it all along!

Last Stand Tomorrow

X-Men 3: The Last Stand is the first movie of the Summer '06 blockbusters that I'm actually excited to see. 'Da Vinci' and 'MI3' are just not that significant even with all the controversy that surrounded the former. Honestly, would people be looking back ten years from now and say MI3 or The DaVinci Code were landmark movies of the mid-00s? I don't think so.

From the way it's titled, it looks like we won't be seeing any more future installments of this franchise. That's a little disappointing because from the very beginning, fans clammored for Gambit to be included in the characters featured in the films. At one point, there was even a rumor going around that Colin Farrell was going to play the card-tossing French Quarter rat. But it turns out all of it was smoke.

Nonetheles, with or without Gambit, I will honor my duty as someone who grew up on Marvel and DC to go see X-Men.

Here's a question for y'all: who is your favorite X-Men character from the comic books/cartoon series?

EVENT COVERAGE ::: Laguna Bits

I got home yesterday from the company outing in Pansol, Laguna. The resort we stayed in had the bottom of the pool laid out with red gravel. Coupled with the pure hot spring water, the place gave that pseudo spa experience. It was so soothing I didn't want to get out of the water.

There was so much food but I held back on binging so as not to spoil my diet plans. "Plans" is the operative word there.

On the way home, I hitched a ride with my co-writer who dropped me off at Festival Supermall Alabang. Since I was there, I figured I might catch a screening of The Da Vinci Code but as soon as I got to the cinema level, all five of the ten theatres it was in were full. The next screening was at 6 pm and I didn't think it was worth waiting since I had to lug my Dumbo-heavy duffel bag around. I decided to just stroll a bit and look around the mall.

I found myself in the activity area where a Santacruzan-themed fashion show was going on. The program was hosted by a trannie named "Armine" who had on a body-hugging neon green dress and wig. When she turned her back to the audience, the stage lights revealed her black thongs. (T-back, bahala na kayo kung anong nasa back)

So the models were called out starting with two little girls aged 5 or 6. The first kid was a pro, no hitches at all. Then Armine called the second kid out. Soon as the little girl emerged from the wings, her face crumpled and it looked like she didn't want to continue.

"Ay, natakot yata sa 'kin!" Armine quipped. Heh! You can say that again. Here she is with two of the models.

Right where I stood was a cardboard ad for Dermstrata (skin care clinic and spa) with MTV VJs KC Montero and Cindy Kurleto. From the way it looked, I can't help but wonder just how much make-up and airbrushing was involved.

Before I end, let me just pay homage to the three Filipinos who conquered Mount Everest this past week. Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata, and Romy Garduce have shown this country that overcoming a challenge, no matter the scale, comes naturally for the Pinoy. I'm proud of you guys.

This morning, I saw the Boracay episode of Mobbed. Max could not control his happiness and said, "I loooove the Philippines!!!"

So do I, Max. So do I.

One Hour To Go!

It's 6 PM. You know what that means? It means I'll be clocking the shiznit out of this place in an hour. Means I'll be heading out into rush hour traffic and falling asleep in the process. Thank God I'm not driving.

There's really no point in this post other than to say thanks to everyone out there in Mobbedlandia for reading my mundane mumbo jumbo. Man, you guys ought to go out more! Kidding.

No, really, thank you to all my readers and everyone who posted comments. I do read them all.

P.S. There are a couple of photos I'd like for y'all to see in my Photo Album so click on over there when you gots the time.

Back from Laguna as a HOT BLOG!

I got home yesterday from the company outing in Pansol, Laguna. The resort we stayed in had the bottom of the pool laid out with red gravel. Coupled with the pure hot spring water, it gave that pseudo spa experience. There was so much food but I held back on binging so as not to spoil my diet plans. "Plans" is the operative word there.

I hitched a ride with my co-writer who dropped me off at Festival Supermall Alabang. Since I was there, I figured I might catch a screening of The Da Vinci Code but as soon as I got to the cinema level, all five of the ten theatres it was in were full. The next screening was at 6 pm and I didn't think it was worth waiting since I had to lug my Dumbo-heavy duffel bag around. I decided to just stroll a bit and look around the mall.

I found myself in the activity area where a Santacruzan-themed fashion show was going on. The program was hosted by a trannie named "Armine" who had on a body-hugging neon green dress and wig. When she turned her back to the audience, the stage lights revealed her black thongs. (T-back, bahala na kayo kung anong nasa back)

So the models were called out starting with two little girls aged 5 or 6. The first kid was a pro, no hitches at all. Then Armine called the second kid out. Soon as the little girl emerged from the wings, her face crumpled and it looked like she didn't want to continue.

"Ay, natakot yata sa 'kin!" Armine quipped. Heh! You can say that again. Here she is with two of the models.

Right where I stood was a cardboard ad for Dermstrata (skin care clinic and spa) with MTV VJs KC Montero and Cindy Kurleto. From the way it looked, I can't help but wonder just how much make-up and airbrushing was involved.

Today, when I got online to check for any comments, I realized this blog has been picked as one three Hot Blogs for the week. What does that mean though? Do I get any prize or incentive from it? Or are they just acknowledging the fact that I, scribe, am just muy caliente! I think so.

Before I end, let me just pay homage to the three Filipinos who conquered Mount Everest this past week. Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata, and Romy Garduce have shown this country that overcoming a challenge, no matter the scale, comes naturally for the Pinoy. I'm proud of you guys.

This morning, I saw the Boracay episode of Mobbed. Max could not control his happiness and said, "I loooove the Philippines!!!"

So do I, Max. So do I.

U2 ::: An Instrument for the Womenfolk

That Bono likes to keep busy doesn't he? Here he is visiting a garment factory in Lesotho as part of the DATA (Product) Red campaign which "gives a percentage of each (RED) product sold to The Global Fund for helping women and children with HIV/AIDS in Africa."