Why Thailand Beer Won't Sell in the Philippines

People react to their senses.

When they sense that something, for example, smells bad, they tend to find the nearest exit away from the odor.

When they see something attractive, such as a nice watch, or a nice article of clothing, they tend to reach towards their wallet.

I've been around. I've seen the world. I've had a rough childhood. I've even been known to cry during happy moments, and laugh during sad moments.

But nothing in my life, after summing up the totality of all my life experiences (which accounts to roughly more than nine lives, more than that of a cat), ever, ever prepared me for this:



















This is a bottle label from a beer that I was drinking in a bar while visiting Denmark on business. Now the Danes probably wouldn't know any better, but the word "Singha" in Tagalog (the Filipino language) takes on a whole new meaning.

It means, roughly translated to English, "Snot." As in, "Snot on your nose," or "Snot in your nose," or simply, "You snotty little bastard."

Needless to say, the sensation of drinking Singha gave me the shivers. Thanks for the Thai beer, but no, thank you, I'm fine. Nothing against the Thais. I have some good friends from Thailand. Maybe one day I'll mention this concern of mine with them.

The old cliche still applies after all----" Lost In Translation."







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Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

How Video Games Might Change the Dynamics of the Music Industry

(The virtual Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith in Guitar Hero: Aerosmith)

I have to admit before going on that I am not a gamer. I know absolutely nothing about PlayStations, PSP’s, Xbox’s, and whatever other gaming brands and consoles that are out there.

To read the rest of the article, please click here on the link to the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Music Blog, Soundtrip.

Please check out Mr. Arnel Pineda's Official WebSite

While looking at the official Journey site, I found a post about Mr. Arnel Pineda's plans to put up a foundation here in Manila, dedicated to helping less fortunate kids. This led me to a link to Mr. Pineda's official site. Quite interesting, and there is a section that documents an actual chat between Arnel and some of his fans, where he mentions his plans to put up the foundation.

I personally like the way the site looks and feels. Simple and easy to use interface. I wish this blogsite can look like that....:)

You can check out the site here

Many thanks for reading. Soldier on!

Swing Vote: A New Movie from Kevin Costner, Out Soon

Kevin Costner films have always been a staple in my movie collection. Best known for his Academy Award winning film "Dances With Wolves," Costner once ruled the box-office in the late 80's and 90's, playing the stereotypical strong but silent type in movies like "The Untouchables," and "The BodyGuard."

Unimaginable as it might be today, Mr. Costner was once the biggest box-office draw (compare that to Brad Pitt or Will Smith today) in Hollywood.

But Mr. Costner has always played wacky characters, a side of him that some movie fans probably don't get a chance to see every so often. In fact, his big film debut in "Silverado" was playing the character of Jake, a young gunslinger with a penchant for the ladies. Take a look at "Bull Durham" "3000 Miles To Graceland" and "Tin Cup" where he played off the wall characters.

Though he hasn't had a big hit in years, Costner has managed to keep his career alive by making movies that really tell a story ("Mr. Brooks," "The Guardian," "Wyatt Earp") and I appreciate that effort.

Just in time for the November U.S. Elections is a new Costner release, titled "Swing Vote." The movie is about a man whose single vote will determine the fate of a fictional U.S. Election. Both parties, Republican and Democrats, try to sway him to get his decisive vote.

I am really looking forward to this movie. Here's a short trailer c/o You Tube:



Read more about it here.

The United States Civil War: Lessons Learned

I've always been interested in U.S. history. As a child in school, all that was taught to me in History classes was that it was a war fought between North and South, over slavery. Simple enough for a 12 year old boy to understand, but as I matured, I started following the war more closely. I bought all kinds of books: Coffee Table books, books on President Abraham Lincoln, you name it.

On film, all sorts of movies are available that depict the Civil War in one form or another: North and South, Gettysburg, Gods and Generals, Dances with Wolves, Glory, to name a few.

There is a great deal of information out there right now on the Internet, and I'm no scholar, but after years of reading up on Civil War events and trivia, I've concluded that this war wasn't a war between good or evil, generally speaking. It was a great era, and the United States indeed was in a crisis. Good men acted decisively, men fought for their beliefs, and human nature itself was tested. The outcome really did not matter to me in the end (the South "lost").

What is most fascinating about this war are the small stories and events that were not highly publicized in media. I've stumbled on a very informative blog dedicated to the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. You might want to take a look at this.

More to come on the Civil War...stay tuned.

More On Journey and Arnel Pineda

Mr. Dennis Posadas, author of Rice and Chips, and tech columnist of Business World, has written a story on Mr. Arnel Pineda's incredible rise to success with Journey.

Check it out here.

Journey Is Back

I’ve been very lucky to have a sixth sense when it comes to getting a hold of good music.

In these days of downloading music, I rarely buy CD’s, and if I do, they are from bands that in my mind deserve a slot in my CD case drawer.

Journey is one of those bands. When a friend advised me of his impending trip to Manila I immediately requested him to find me a copy of their latest release, Revelation, which is available only at Wal-Mart Stores in North America. Much of my interest stemmed from news that their new lead singer was Arnel Pineda of the Philippines.

Click here for the rest of the article.

Pardon me...

To all friends to whom I've sent e-mails on the second post, please wait till next week. I need to do some further editing on it. Come back soon.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones!

As the title suggests, I am a big fan of the Rolling Stones. For the hardcore fan, the name "Glimmer" will ring bells right away. For the uninitiated, check out the official site here.

This blog will talk about anything under the sun that comes to mind. Most of it will deal with music and history, but please feel free to e-mail me on topics that may come to mind.

Pardon the formal tone. This is my first experience with blogging; I have resisted the temptation for quite a while...but as with all temptations...well, Eve must have a good answer for me when I reach the Pearly Gates.

Thanks for reading.