Resolution revolution

I miss my family. I miss my friends, I miss my pets. I miss 200 different beers, 10 different flavors of hot wings, 2 brothers and one sis. I miss steak n' shake with mom, benny's burritos with dad, and catfish and fries with granny and grandad. 

My life is good in Japan...  But there's this house next door...  And it's Nagoya-- 2 million strong,  big-ass city with like 120,000 people just in my WARD...  so houses are super-close. Walls are thinner than notebook paper.  So I can hear a gnat fart from four doors down!  Anyway, just trying to illustrate the point that I can hear a lot of the goings-on of this house next door. 

There's a family-- Mom, Dad, and 2 small kids.  a girl and a boy.  And like most small kids, one minute they're laughing, crying the next...  But the parents are always playing with them.  The dad works some long hours I think.  I heard him complaining about it. (damn my Japanese is getting good if I can understand complaining while eavesdropping!) His son, who had gotta be just under 5 years-old or so, says, "well you gotta work. I wanna play with you everyday, but fathers must work." The dad says, "why do you think that?" "Because, that's how we get ice cream!" 

I must have laughed for 20 minutes after that (and I'm sure they heard me laughing...  and know why I was laughing...) But it made me homesick a little...  It reminded me of my parents, and grandparents...  It reminded me that my family is far away.  It made me jealous of my Japanese friends, and my students-- they can see their family anytime...  

...Then I realized why I sacrificed that feeling...

I have to have a better resolve.  I have to remember that I am here for something and I have to remember that I gave up a lot to get this far.  I have to make this thing I'm after WORK.  I have to have RESOLVE. 

If you go back to some of the earlier posts in this tome, you can see what I was going through then...  Trust and believe, it was a lot worse that what I could share on the net.  Now that I'm back in Japan, the job is half over...  

...And the hard part is about to begin...  Coming here was liberating.  But true freedom lies in accomplishing the goal; becoming free to believe in one's self.  

I set a high goal, but that's ok.

I'm not afraid of heights.

Posted via email from ...all about starrwulfe...

read more...

Real talk: Homeland

I'm back from my epic 3 week adventure in my homeland, America. I'd been gone about 1 1/2 years, which is probably the longest I've been away from home continuously in my life. (shouts out to my military friends who do this all the time while putting their lives on the line BTW)

I went back home with pride in my heart and a "mission accomplished" sign around my neck. I'd set off to JapanLand in October 2008 to live my dreams, and had nothing except 2 suitcases, and a junior high school teaching job. I came back with RAN Magazine, Lion 会話, and StreetSideMedia日本.

But home has this funny way of not really caring where you've been or what you've done; you're still J7 with the big ears, funny teeth and goofy laugh that you've always been. You're still cousin J with a drivers license and free time, so can you please take me to my basketball tryouts 'cause no one else feels like it. You're still bro-ham, and I need to get $5 for the bus and a KFC snacker. You're still lil J, so come to the store and help me with the groceries.

I'm still my mama's son--so I rolled the dumpster to the curb on trash day and I ran all sorts of errands. My brother works his ass off doing lots of double shifts so I took his wife to her doctor appointments. My other brother does lots of business traveling so I could only hook up with him after 11pm in Waffle House or Taco Mac. And we still some broke @$$ Negroes, so I had to give some of them some loot to make ends meet.

My Scinergy car club brothers and sisters are still building rides you wish you owned, and even though I'm gone over here, Im never forgotten. Thanx for that guys-- you all are the reason I never totally went insane when I was there. I knew David, Christy, lil Steve, Rabid, Geoff and the Slays would always have some shenanigans planned to take my mind off my worries.

My brothers-- Tony, Logan and Brian. I wouldn't be this far without y'all. I know I give y'all hell but it's only 'cause I love y'all. I want ALL of us to shine. Being poor and black from St Louis is not an excuse, and staying that way is not an option. Know that. Let's get it, but let's get it together.

Of course my Mama, Pop, Granny, Grandad... I miss yall the most. I want y'all to come over here and see why I love this place. And I especially want y'all to know that i'd never have contemplated having the ability to be here without the constant pushing and prodding when I was a kid. I love y'all

To my lil ones behind me: Brannon, LeAsia, Devan, Nganda, and Waithera... Use me as an example. Know that nothing is impossible without a lot of hard work and a little luck. Fight for your beliefs. Even if you're the only person that believes, then it's worth it. Find your passion and embrace it.

Bottom line-- ain't $#¡+ really changed. I moved a few thousand miles away, but when I come back, I'm still J7, and that's how it's s'posed to be--good and bad. That's how home has got to be. Never-changing and Always-changing at the same time.

Location:Nagoya City,Japan

read more...

J7 thru the years

See and download the full gallery on posterous

One thing about grandma--she saves everything! She's got every single picture and trinket I've had... So here's some pix of me from kindergarden to high school.

Posted via web from ...all about starrwulfe...

read more...

Roger Ebert, Gets His Voice Back

via videogum.com and Oprah.com

I'd just posted last month or something on Facebook that Roger Ebert had lost his voice, along with the ability to eat, and drink due to a freak incident during surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his jaw. His carotid artery burst.

Sometimes I wonder what I'd do if I were to suffer some debilitating accident that left me blind, paralyzed, deaf, or something. Would I descend into a state of misery and helplessness, or simply adapt and overcome? How would I adapt, and what tools would I use? I already know that the worse thing that could happen is if I lost the ability to use my computer and camera... Especially my computer though-- It's how I make my livelihood as a writer, photojournalist, programmer, and project manager. Roger is also in the same boat because he never gave up his day job; He STILL and HAS BEEN writing for the Chicago Sun Times since the 1970s. Now his trusty Macbook Pro serves another purpose as well... It gave him his voice back.

Today, on Oprah, Ebert showed off his new computerized voice. This wouldn’t be that amazing; after all, computer generated voices have been around since the original Macintosh debuted in 1984. What makes Ebert’s new voice special is that it was formed entirely out of his old voice, using clips and samples from his previous TV shows.

Posted via web from ...all about starrwulfe...

read more...

The view from the other side...

There's a saying that goes "you can't see the forest, for the trees. I've been back in Japan for a year and a half now and I'm at the point where the newness has faded and day-to-day life has set in. This is my reality, and back home is like a fantasyland now. I'll be traveling back to the land of cheap pizzas, bigger houses, and women who wear pants--otherwise known as America, next month. I miss home. I miss pizza that costs less than $20 and has toppings that don't involve corn or mayonnaise. I miss going to Barnes & Noble and reading all the car magazines, killing hours of time in the process. And of course I miss my friends and family. But I forget that there was a big reason why I came here to Japan in the first place. This is where I am meant to be right now. Read earlier posts in this blog before I came here and you'll get it. I need to be here--it's an inescapable feeling I've always had, and in the end, only goes away when I'm here. But I can't see the forest for the trees right now... So sometimes it takes a wake-up call from friends to shake me back into reality.

1:05pmRashad

I think in your being in Japan for so long

you've forgotten what a wonder it is to outside eyes

and you trivalize stuff

there are things there that just don't happen here

and I think you need to focus more on Japan's uniqueness

like the Akirabura [Akihabara] section or however you say it

The fact that manga is read by young and old there

the cosplay

the cuisine all of these would be great topics

even the kickass electronics

1:07pmJason

True-- but that's true of anyplace that you make into your home man. once you're here everyday-- making a living, going about day-to-day socializing, that all changes..

back in '96 I was saying the same thing about ATL. [Atlanta, GA, USA, my permanent residence...for now...]

but it became my home

and then the day-to-day grind sets in

Of course A-town is unique

and I still love it-- its my home

but I've been there so long so I have the right to critsize the faults too

the glamor has faded

Japan for me is like that in some ways

of course I find out new stuff everyday

1:09pmRashad

guess i have a love for the place i want people to see it through my virgin eyes

1:09pmJason

and I'm very aware of the my catbird position being here

but I've lived here on and off for 10 years almost

so I can see it without the pretty packaging too

1:10pmRashad

why im so fascinated by it

1:10pmJason

I can see the social issues that keep this place behind in some ways

but I also know that this is still the same dreamy place it was back in 2000 when I first got off the plane

and there are lots of things that happen here that arent even possible anywhere else

did you read our gaijin superstar article?

1:12pmRashad

but i see it's beauty the culture women and food trumps anything here

I would so have me a fine japanese chic plump with child

as i ate my rice ball and watched chin chan

1:15pmJason

Read this for some real-talk on life here http://snipurl.com/tz5bq

1:18pmJason

I'm coming home March 9th. I'm homesick. I want a real pizza. I want hotwings. Some steak n shake. A porterhouse. I wanna see some big-booty chics twerk it at Strokers. Some sista ass at lenox. But midway thru my vacay, I'll long for onigiri, petite school-girl uniform or yukata-clad girls, and the ablility to buy beer and blacks from a vending machine at 3am and sip and smoke out in public

I'll miss my tiny-ass apartment and friends I have here too. Especially the chicas.

1:20pmJason

I'll miss jumping on the train to go places and hate having to remember where I parked again... I'll miss hot-springs, and friendly children that ask me strange questions about my privates (kids have no shame here...)

I'm coming home March 9th. I'm homesick. I want a real pizza. I want hotwings. Some steak n shake. A porterhouse. I wanna see some big-booty chics twerk it at Strokers. Some sista ass at lenox. But midway thru my vacay, I'll long for onigiri, petite school-girl uniform or yukata-clad girls, and the ablility to buy beer and blacks from a vending machine at 3am and sip and smoke out in public

I'll miss my tiny-ass apartment and the 3 girls I call on the regular.  I'll miss jumping on the train to go places and hate having to remember where I parked again... I'll miss hot-springs, and friendly children that ask me strange questions about my privates (no shame here...)

1:21pmJason

One question--can I post this convo on my blog-- I think everyone will want to see this...

1:24pmRashad

This me dude, there are 2 memebers in the firm that have no reservations that's me and you you I don't give a shit, Just edit my spelling

1:24pmJason

Coolness man. I got you on that.

1:25pmRashad

Jason look at it from my stand point

1:25pmJason

This is cool though, thanks for that-- I sometimes do forget that about this place... it's easy as hell to get lost in that day-to-day grind

1:26pmRashad

I'm mixed and even though I have the classic fair skinned male thing going

I'm nothing like a typical black male

I dont find listening to rap music sagging my pants or anything else stero typically black intresting

1:28pmRashad

Chez has the anime connection like me but he's not into partying and chics like I am you know he's reserved. Mike is retired and has a kid, Sidney is married George isn't into the party side like me but not the anime manga side

1:29pmJason

True true.

everyone has their thing going on right now

1:29pmRashad

so where does that leave me often times I'm in a room full of people and I feel alone because I have non of the interest they do

1:30pmJason

its like that when we all get older man. Hell I'm 32, and apparently according to my parents, grandparents and half of who I know on both sides of the world, I'm supposed to be married and have kids...

1:30pmRashad

In Japanese culture I see kindred spirits even if we are of different color I feel as though I can relate to them

1:31pmJason

You can, I know I can, hence why I am here

1:31pmRashad

I watched the Godzilla marathon and when Final Wars came on I was amazed i was like get em G' man

1:32pmRashad

So Japan has always been home to me in a weird way. I love cherry blossom trees, and koi, and the elegant design food everything there is done with pride and art

1:34pmRashad

ist style people at home don't have that kind of dedication and pride in the things they do. There is no honor hear people with back stab you Japan is a culture built on honor. Here we through are elders away there they revere them

1:34pmJason

I love all that about this place too. but everyday isn't a matsuri here and everyplace isnt kyoto...

There are people afraid that the new generations will lose exactly what we love about this place here.

that's what I talk about with older folks here.

1:35pmRashad

I'm sure it ain't all Dragon Ball Z and high tech electronics but there has to be something there that's calling my soul I refuse to believe other wise

1:36pmJason

Japan has its share of back stabbers too-- just follow Japanese politics long enough and some of the things make our goverment look like fraggle rock! (ever seen OUR finance minister drunk at a G8 summit?)

So if that's calling to you, then go to it man, go.

Do what I did, save them coins, then jump off the cliff.

1:39pmRashad

Jason I use to hate your me 1st ways but it pushed you to were you are I decided to put me first this year

And just maybe I'll make it there. I guess you can tell me what I have to do to stay awhile if I ever make it out there

1:41pmRashad

I'm sick of the states I've lived in 8 states and the food has lost it''s taste the the water it's appeal I feel like a Vampire my thirst can no longer be quench by what these petty mortals have to offer.

1:42pmRashad

At first you think your crazy when you feel this way wondering why you don't fit in when your younger but the older you get. You start to see the lines of the Matrix and realized your one of the few enlighten ones and the rest of these folks are just cows going to slaughter

1:43pmJason

I knew that when I was back in the A, and I used that feeling to push me

you gotta use that feeling. Take that negative energy and push it into something positive

Make it your own thing. Control it, dont let it control you

1:45pmRashad

really sad actually I live in a society where people look forward to seeing Real Chance @ Love these people here are lost man. And I need to jump ship and get to the island before the mainland Zombies devour me

1:45pmJason

Everyday I wake up I ask myself What the F am I doing here? But when I go to sleep I think thank God I live here again.

I like being outside at 3am drinking a beer on the street and not having cops roll up on me just because

I like being able to just talk to some girl and not have some negative attitude bite my face off

I like just being able to breathe and do my thing without negative vibes thrown at me

1:47pmRashad

dude trust me you aren't missing a thing here this economy is horrible, these women are exhausting, you are in the right place

read more...

If a 14-year-old can do it...

Just thought I'd share something that's inspiring, and also let's everyone know that young folks ARE ready to stand up and take over, if given a fair chance and proper guidance.

Savannah Britt was a published poet by the age of eight. By nine, she was hired as a paid reviewer of children’s books for The Kitchen Table News – a New Jersey newspaper with a readership of 70,000. But when that newspaper went under, Savannah was left unemployed at the tender age of 11.
Like any great entrepreneur, Savannah pulled herself up by her bootstraps. She started her own publication – a magazine called Girlpez – making her the youngest magazine publisher in the world. The magazine features coverage of events, like concerts and fashion shows, along with interviews from the likes of Shwayze, Kevin Rudolf, and Dawn from Dannity Kane.
Now 15, Savannah has guided her magazine as it has transitioned to an online-only format at Girlpez.com. She hopes to use her influence to strengthen girls and their communities.

Q: For most teenagers, getting a summer job counts as being ambitious. What do you think drove you above and beyond, towards entrepreneurship?

A: I like a challenge. I think what drove me to start my magazine was the fact that I was so young and I was doing something that nobody around me was doing. That pushed me, honestly, to start my magazine. I can be a competitive person.
My mom and dad definitely pushed me as well. My dad has published three books and he’s a very determined person. If he says something, he’s going to do it. He’s also optimistic and he does not procrastinate at all. I think he inspired me.

Q: How did you balance other priorities (in particular: school, friends, and family) with your business?

A: It’s really hard. I’m in all honors courses, so I have to balance the studies with the magazine. I go to school six hours a day and I have basketball practice afterwards. Then I go straight home and [conduct an] interview if I can. Even some Saturday mornings I’ll do interviews, because it’s the only time I can squeeze them in. On top of that, I’m currently working on a music project that I’m trying to get attention for from labels.
Somehow I do it all. I don’t know how, but it gets done. I’ve got a calendar in front of me. It’s hard, but I make it work. When I was about 14, in eighth grade, I thought that [Girlpez] was putting a strain on me and that I wouldn’t be able to focus on grades. But I was able to bounce back. I have always been a very independent person, but I finally sought help from my parents.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A: I would like to raise money for Haiti [following the earthquake of January, 2010]. It’s a sad experience that’s going on there, but it’s definitely something that I want to address. It’s a wake-up call for the world that there a lot of people who are stricken by poverty.
Also, I’m working with another young entrepreneur who runs a blog, Jayswag.com. We want to put together a conference that will feature people in the industry who are well-versed in hip-hop. We want to have a panel of them and have teens be able to come ask questions and have a discussion.
There are some things in the hip-hop industry that go under the rug and they need to be addressed – like the way they portray women in the music videos, the people they put in the ads, and whether or not their skin color matters. It’s something that needs to be discussed.
This is an abridged version from Savannah’s interview in our latest project, 50 Interviews: Young Entrepreneurs. Savannah left me speechless a few times in this interview. It’s remarkable to talk to a young girl who has so much direction and determination in her life. You will be seeing more of her down the road.

via juniorbiz.com

Being in the magazine business is hard work... Really hard. When 4 buddies and I got together this time last year to start RAN magazine, we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into; we just wanted our area to know all the stuff we hear on the streets everyday. Now after 3 issues, we've ironed out most of the potholes in our workflow, and gotten a good head of steam going as far as motivation is concerned. But sometimes we get bogged down into the depths of our own languidness. We all have full-time jobs here as English teachers, and we all also have separate side jobs as well. So it's easy to become burned-out.
Then you read stories like this about a girl who started a magazine when she was in 4th grade of elementary school... Outta the mouths of babes, right?

Posted via web from ...all about starrwulfe...

read more...

2010: Odyssey of Change

Just wanna say Happy 2010 to everyone reading this now.  Back from a long adventure, and while there were all kinds of hitches, bumps, and wierdness along the way, how it ended is how it counts.  Everyone is back home, safe, sound and satisfied.

I believe this year will bring in sweeping changes in the way information gets amassed, transmitted, received, and consumed; therefore bringing about a paradigm shift in the way we interact with each other.  Just a feeling I have, but I'm almost certain that the end of 2010 will see the world much different that its beginning...  Whether that's good or bad--I can't call it now, but let's get our collective pray on, OK?

May this New Year be more prosperous than the last for you and your loved ones.  今年もよろしくお願いします。

Posted via email from ...all about starrwulfe...

read more...

Been back in Japan for a year-- time for a podcast!

JLG podcast #1

via drop.io

I know I've slacked off on running the blog the way I should, but between 2 teaching gigs, the magazine, and general freelance socializing, I've been busy. So I think I'm gonna start doing the podcast thang, that way you can just LISTEN or WATCH me rant and rave instead of looking at my misspellings and poor punctuation skills (even though I EDIT a magazine ;p)

Let me know what you think of it!

In this one I answer a few questions about how to come here, and what you can expect from living here a little...

Posted via web from ...all about starrwulfe...

read more...

Instances of efficiency and inefficiency here in Japan...

The postal service here is EXTREMELY efficient-- If I'm not home when they come, they let you reschedule delivery over the Internet for same day even...  also they will come at night until 9pm AND even on SUNDAYS.  No wonder working for Japan Post means a good life-long career.  

Oh and did I mention the Postal Service also operates a bank too??  Did I mention it's the largest bank in the country (because where there are people, obviously there's a post office somewhere)  So just about EVERYBODY has a postal savings account--including me.  It makes it easy for people to pay me--no excuses about not knowing where the bank is (and in Japan, there's no such thing as "check's in the mail"-- they don't exist--everything is either done as a bank transfer, or good ol' cash (although there are now credit cards and stuff too) 

 I remember I once had a part time job as an English teacher in an after-school program (called "juku").  I taught Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at the end of every Thursday lesson, I would get handed an envelope with straight cash and a receipt.  Of course I would run to the nearest PO-ATM and deposit it (about $500, not bad for 10 hrs total.)  Even now I mostly pay bills by going to the 7-11 on the first floor of my apt bldg and giving them the bill and paying it in cash at the register.  Since my bank's ATM is in 7-11 its easy to do it that way.  I know it's paid, and it's hella convenient.  If the bill doesn't have the bar code that the convenience stores use on it, then I have to go to an ATM or use the Internet and do what's called "furi-komi" meaning send money to another bank account.  You have no idea how hard it was to navigate the ATM's menu in JAPANESE trying to figure it out.  The English menu didn't have that option!!  Thank God I can read every other Japanese word now.  It still took 15 minutes.  I know there were some pissed folks behind me, but WTF?  Sorry, but I like having running water in my crib, so you gotta wait dammit!

Ok, now what's inefficient?  Anything that involves operating a vehicle for example...  OK what else is new?  The American system of getting a driver's license is a state operated affair, and therefore varies from state to state, but not by a wide margin; everyone HATES going to the DMV in most places so there's nothing new there.  Here though its even more time consuming!  The prefectural police departments run these places and there's usually only one to three centers in most prefectures.  Meaning if you live way out, you're SOL and you must take a whole day off from work, school or whatever to do anything....  Oh yeah, thats also because these places are CLOSED on the WEEKENDS!!  WTF?!  Also, if youre CURSED like I am and are American and not Canadian, Australian, New Zealander or from most of Europe, you're f***ed-- and you gotta take this hard @$$ driving test that only 33% pass the first time....  Even though most of us Americans drive way more than Japanese, or Europeans, by virtue of our gas-guzzling mentalities and lack of decent, timely, affordable, safe public transportation.  I've been driving since I was 15 1/2 years old.  I learned how to drive on the streets of Los Angeles, and have driven almost anything with wheels, from motorcycles to fast cars, to limos, to over-the-road buses!!  I have driven for over half my own life, and I'll probably fail the damn driving test the first time...  Why?  Because its very SUBJECTIVE.  

The driving test isn't about you driving safely on a real road-- there's an actual track that looks like Mario Kart set up behind the DMV.  You drive there.  But guess what?  They aren't gonna tell you where to turn!!  You have to MEMORIZE this beforehand.  I know people that can't remember how to get to places in their own neighborhood that they've been living in for years!!  But its up to you to do it in the period between your passing the written test (hella easy--only 10 questions) and taking the driving test.  Oh yeah that part sucks too.  You must take the driving test on a different day-- so its back to the DMV again for that.  Now how to memorize the courses?  Yeah courses, 'cause there's TWO, A & B.  You gotta memorize them BOTH.  When you get into the car (after making the checks outside the car for sleeping cats underneath, trash or children underneath, etc--then adjust EVERYTHING in the car--seats, mirrors, steering wheel, etc [I'm not making this up!]) the testing dude (some guy with a bad disposition and a mean look on his face maybe) will simply say "take course __." and then you gotta drive that course.  with no help.  at all.  

Faced with this, and the knowledge that the testing dudes at this place are known for their strictness, I decided to take 2 hours of road course driving, to memorize the course, and to hear some advice from the testing guys.  For $140...  Expensive right?  But I wanna pass this the first time.  Even still I was surprised at how precisely I'll be judged...

I took the practice test on Saturday; I was criticized for not being all the way to the left or right IN THE L/R LANE when turning. Meaning I was in the correct lane, but not all the way ON THE CURB when turning. HUH?! Also I need to not slow down as much thru flashing yellow lights... These things get you killed in ATL if you did that...sigh.

BTW I read this little informative site for JETs here that talks about how to go about getting a Japanese Driver's license.  Please read it to be sure that this isn't just me overeacting, ok?

So now I have one more practice to get it right.  after that I take my test on the 19th at 9am.  Wish me luck!

read more...

A few thoughts at random...

Taking public transportation here is like riding in a limo sometimes back home. The buses run on time ALL the time, and inside is nice, clean and quiet as a church mouse! subways and trains are the same-- most of the time I end up being the loud one, if I happen to get on the train with a few friends and we're talking a bit. The second biggest train station in Nagoya is Kanayama station, and its either a 10 minute walk or a 2~3 minute bike ride from my pad (yep, I bought a used bike when I got here-- EVERYONE rides bikes to get around their neighborhood, and it's as important as owning a car is in Atlanta.)

Tonight after work I'm going to the public bath... its more like a huge spa, but for about $6 you can relax in the hot water and unwind and drink a beer or two. As you know, I don't mind being nekkid in front of other folks so it's all good. Wildly enough, I end up meeting the coolest people at sentos (public baths) and onsens (hot springs) After that, I need to go and buy a small room heater-- it's chilly as hell now, and my apartment has NO insulation around the big huge balcony sliding door that makes up one side of my room.

read more...

Miner inconviences...

I'm sorry I've been outta touch lately y'all but please try to understand-- I am living in a country now where no one really steps outside the rules... Unlike the US where we Yanks have a large gray-zone, Japanese pride themselves on following rules to the last letter.

Right now I am waiting on them to process my Gaikokujin Toroku shomeishou, which is Japanese for "alien registration ID" or as we americans know it, Green Card.

Without this, I cant even rent a damn DVD at the movie joint across the street! I cant open a bank account, I cant get cellphone service, I cant get DSL at home, and I cant even go get my drivers license here!

This IS how its supposed to work actually in our country to by the way, but we all know it doesnt, but mostly because the bureacracy has cracks wider than the Grand Canyon. But here in Japan, the government is a ginormous machine where each cog and wheel is counted, oiled, and checked at least 200 times per day, and there's no side-stepping done. If they say it(ll be a month before you get a little plastic card that says the same exact thing as the big sticker you have in your passport, then its gonna take that long, and tough titties if it makes your life hella inconvient in the meantime.

So for now, I have to hit internet cafes, or sneak some internet time at work to communicate back home... Please dont be mad if my replies are limited...

read more...

Out of the mouths of babes...

Name: Charice Pempengco
Age: At this time she was 12, now she's 15
Home: Philippines

I can't say anything else but damn... I pray to god someone at Avex/Sony in Tokyo has already signed her to at least do the next Bleach movie theme or something... or be on a track with Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie, and Soulhead... She can even sing with Misia...

If you look closely, she even has that "sista-girl" neck thing too!! Man this chick can sing!!

Check out her official MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/charicepempengco

read more...

Into the light

Well one thing about myself I do like-- I don't stay down for very long. Yeah I've been going through some ill s*** lately (see the previous post) but at this point, I am looking at some of the things that are going right for a change.

• A music video I shot in collaboration with a buddy of mine is probably gonna get aired on the international music channels...
• The movie I shot last year is finally done... Now we just have to shop it around and get some sort of deal.
• StreetSide Media is becoming well-known around here... Went to a few places in the past week and broke out my demo or business card, and a few people already knew about us. Not bad!

I still have no job... but then again I do--StreetSide-- I just need to start the hustle so it can be a sole source of revenue for us.
You know, I never used to really believe in the devil; I still don't. But I do believe in negative energy and that's everywhere right now. To avoid it, surround yourself with positive energy and feelings.

read more...

Ever wanting to be wanted

Thru the emptiness in my heart, I keep the candle lit.
It burns bright for all to see... My hopes, my dreams, and even the failures and broken promises... These fuel the candle.

This candle is there in my heart to guide my love to me.

Ever vigilant, I also sit atop the tallest mountian in my soul. Armed with my binoculars and telescopes, and the latest radio-satelllite-infrared tracking gadgetry, I am looking for her candle as well.

Even as it snows and rains in my heart, my candle will not go out, so long as there is the hope that I may one day be united with her.

Maybe I need to install a spotlight, foghorn, and have a fireworks display and laser show going on too...

read more...