I just read the news this morning. The Taiwan undersea cable repairs have only just begun. Just wondering...it's been more than ten years and yet IT/ECE communications engineers didn't forsee this catastrophe? We're in the age of wi-fi and GPS, and yet...undersea cables? What happened to antenna dishes? Look, I'm no engineer or tech person, yet I believe there is a low-cost way of producing some sort of retractable/collapsible/stretchable cable system or a long-range system of data transfer that doesn't rely on (sheesh) undersea cables.

I know I'm talking from my own agitated point of view, but relying totally on undersea cables is just plain stupid to begin with. If things can work effectively using Bluetooth devices and even satellite can bring in tons of info in a matter of milliseconds, what in the world are we doing with undersea cables? Suddenly, I can't help but feel that the Internet, useful though it is, is so hyped up and overrated.

I also know that other people use the Net more than I do for more important things that involve bigger things like telecoms and data transfer. It's just that things could be done better but people, institutions and countries choose not to do so.

So here I am, waiting until the end of February (hopefully) to get things uploaded. So sorry if you find the updates here irregular and really, really slow. My fingers are already aching from doing Refresh all the time because of the erratic inflow of data.

But then, there's the rest of the year. There will be more songs and more surprises for you who patiently wait. 

Here are some of the pictures taken by Paolo O. Cruz of the recent performance last Nov.11:

Thank you so much, Pao and Claire of Dumpling Press, for organizing one of the most wonderful events of the year!

This is now the final list of songs that I will be performing for All Tomorrow's Gimiks II:

Blinders-a very new song, written days ago. Funky? You decide.

They Look Like Movie Stars-new lyrics, built from a reggae-tinged riff that I created in 2002.

Ashfall-written in 2004. You know this song.

Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You- a Tom Waits cover

Hold Fast-very new song, the 'heaviest' that I could manage from my Suzuki CG and its LaBella strings.

Damn-old song, written back in 1998.

Human Inside-also written back in 1998.

Hard Times-an old time classic by Stephen Foster.

That's it. You guys give it up for Battle City!

I am currently rehearsing during my free time.

Three new songs:

1.They Look Like Movie Stars

2.Waiting For The Empire To Fall

3.Hold Fast

Covers:

1. Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You (Tom Waits)

2. Hard Times (Stephen Foster)

3. A Dead Ends cover?! Hopefully.

Instrumental Pieces:

1. Serenade 96 (with Lernie Ang)

Back to rehearsal. Some changes might occur.

The latest single from local band Imago, 'Taralets', has been capturing the airwaves recently. I find their new sound exciting, even if the idea of singing the lyrics churns my insides.

The Philippine rock scene is quite diverse, but I can't help but feel that it is bankrupt in innovation (I mean, is there an unsigned local rock band out there that plays bowed 8-string guitars, an upside-down drum kit that consists of 3 kick-drums and 4 snares, an electronic trombone attached to a distortion pedal and an 'askal' dog for back-up vocals?). I hear the same old angst, the same old whining. Or in the case of some bands, preachy and espousing lip-service nationalism. When will I hear a song that will make my blood boil and want to start a revolution?

Alas, such is the fate of people like me who prefer to be songwriters than rock performers (rockstars).

What happened to the time when we could play a song in front of a small crowd and there will be one or two people in the audience who would either say 'cool!' or get misty-eyed because a song of yours made a connection beyond mere lyric recitation?  

I am currently working freelance as a web designer for a business school here in Manila. While the pay leaves much to be desired, and the environment has all its constraints (can't install Dreamweaver software in office PC because of incompetent IT people, people not checking their emails, people fiddling with my computer, people who think that I can churn out websites from my ass in seconds, etc.), I'm doing my best to work within these limitations. I have just been paid partially yesterday, and plan to save it to buy a good PC that will also serve as my virtual studio.

After I get that darn PC, I will be set to work on my debut EP.

On the side, would anyone be interested in checking out the Lewis*Staples back catalogue? I have at least 6 cassette tapes worth of old songs, mostly recorded with a Fostex 4-track, dating from 1995-2001. Back then, I didn't know jack about singing/playing in tune, and the earlier material consisted mostly of hits and misses method of songwriting.

Oh, well. I suppose I can put them out later after two LPs.