Neko

A poem I posted on January 08, 2005 while I was listening to the albums The Madcap Laughs, Opel and Barrett, when I was in my dark-sided days, when I was half the way down, Soaring with Syd Barrett came to mind today. Then I remembered, yeah, it is exactly a month since his death.

It’s a habit of me to bring out old records to soothe my agony, as I remember those days when I used to light up some doobey and lock myself in my room. It used to feel like I could stay there in my room for all eternity, but then again after the kick wares out, I realize that it’s only been a day or two. Anyway, that remote feeling of peace, happiness and tranquility (although temporary), without minding and laughing at the mess of my room, my mind flying into deep unknowns, floating with music, laughing more, write, write, paint draw and write some more then laugh at it all… somewhat causes different trips depending on mood… oh, well, but I was not into other trips than that. Ok, sometimes eating too much like there is no tomorrow.. heh!

They said those who were hooked with Pink Floyd was once hooked with doobey too. That’s judgmental. But hey, do I know anyone who wasn’t? But unlike LSD, or acid, that was a once-legal pharmaceutical, it causes euphoria, flights of almost tangible fancy, hallucinations, and on the downside, somewhat depressing and harrowing trips. And according to Of Syd Barrett, Psychedelia and Psilocybin, “…By 1966, the drug had been criminalized as it was by then the party favor of choice for hippy kids and swingers of all stripes, including Barrett. Barrett became an acid casualty. A man so consumed by the inward journey the drugs led him on that he soon became unable to function in his role as bandleader and songwriter for Pink Floyd…”

The article was fairly well written, but in protest to just these particular statement about Syd, I found the interview of Syd’s sister, Rosemary, in her first interview for 30 years.

The ‘crazy diamond’ founder of Pink Floyd was no acid casualty or recluse. He loved art and DIY, his sister Rosemary tells his biographer Tim Willis… [read the rest of the article]

Another interview that I recall reading years back was with Ian Barrett, the 22 year old nephew of ‘Syd’ (well that was in 2000). It was reproduced on the Dolly Rocker web site.

Art of Syd Barrett. And I’m pretty sure there is more artwork that he has done which is currently hidden from the public. And I am definite that someday, even his art will be well known.

Surfing I found links photos, and even vids of him, and Pink Floyd (none for live performance tho) Here is Spirits of a Generation - a show about Nick Drake and Pink Floyd Documentary.

Photos of him are of course, part of information and a fan’s collection. But I still think that taking stolen shots of a person preferring to live in anonymity is still a violation upon a person. I found collected photos of him in recent years here, with a mix of stolen shots and news articles, even photos of his house: [neptune pink floyd gallery]

A question tho, also found in neptune’s site, at first glance, I thought they didn’t mention who she was in this Mick Rock Garden Session… but she definitely looked Asian to me…

… But then, I saw a photo note that it was either Mick Rock’s girlfriend or wife. hmm… And I almost thought it’s another unpopular Lennon-Ono pair. Ok, I’m not on dope here… heh!

My cd just coincidently currently plays the outtakes, bonus tracks from Madcap Laughs, that’s why… Yes I’m thiiii-iiii-iiin-king of this yes I am… hold you tiii-iiiiight you’re so close yes you are please hold on to the steel rail… he isn’t love on sunday’s mail… Did I wiiii-iiii-iiiinking of this I am, yum yummy yam dope yummy yhum yam yum hah! love that voice and humor!

But his shift from humor and wit, to deep lyrics, sincere, dark and melancholic adding the melodies of his guitar, creates a hero in disguise. Words to hang on to who seemed to understand what you’re going through and takes you to a ride to flee from it all, and remain in wanderment. In a way, Syd and his music was a friend, a guardian who helped me hang on, trip, cry and laugh out your madness and miseries away. This will never reach him, but THANK YOU SYD! You will always be remembered… and you shall continue to shine on, you crazy diamond!

If Nick Drake’s sister, Gabrielle said “I personally prefer to think Nick committed suicide, in the sense that I’d rather he died because he wanted to end it than it to be the result of a tragic mistake. That would seem to me to be terrible: for it to be a plea for help that nobody hears.”

So too do I think that for Syd Barrett.

—–
more links:
The Syd Barrett Archives
Pink Floyd Official Site
BBC News: Syd Barrett dies age 60
Collected links: Look At This

related site:
official site for Nick Drake

I just mail from DARLA Records, announcing its New releases and restocks for May, 2006:

CHAPTERHOUSE
Whirlpool           cd      $12.99

Inspired by My Bloody Valentine and Ride, Chapterhouse were part of the early 90s first-wave shoegaze scene. They were on the more pop/rock end of the spectrum, often mixing in the Manchester baggy beat with their wall-of-sonic-guitar-fuzz alongside peers

The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, and Blur. Chapterhouse created records to stimulate both mind and feet. This newly expanded reissue of their classic debut Whirpool, includes all the b-sides from the singles ‘Pearl’, ‘Falling Down’ and the ‘Sunburst EP’, along with ‘Die Die Die’ which was originally only available on a free record that came with the vinyl version of the album and is on CD for the first time. Produced by the band along side Robin Guthrie [Cocteau Twins], John Fryer [This Mortal Coil], Stephen Hague [New Order] and Ralph Jezzard, and featuring guest vocals from Rachel Goswell [Slowdive], with liner notes from music journalist and long-time associate Andrew Perry, along with the lyrics in full [documented here for the first time], photos, memorabilia and other clippings from the bands personal archive, and images of all of the releases featured on the album.

JULY SKIES
The English Cold      cd      $14.49

Re-press. July Skies is the musical project of Antony Harding, a member of the Birmingham based electronic band Avrocar who were cited as an influence by Radiohead during the recording their experimental album Kid A.

Avrocar and July Skies have previously received significant airplay from John Peel and Mary-Anne Hobbs of BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 3. July Skies debut album Dreaming of Spires was a pastoral departure from the dark skittery urban beats of Avrocar and trod the path of reflective dreamlike compositions that were heavily anchored in childhood memories and a lost 1950/60s English countryside.. musically, think the Durutti Column, the melancholy of Piano Magic, Maurice Deebank (Felt) or Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins). July Skies have received excellent reviews from a recent successful gig at the Pop Revo festival in Denmark where they supported The Clientele and Radio Dept. Nick Halsted reviewed English Cold for Uncut.

NARA LEAO
Nara ‘67           cd      $12.99

Restock. A brilliant 23 track compilation of the Brazilian Bossa Nova star Nara Leao. The cliche about Nara Leao was that she was “the muse of bossa nova.” As a teenager in the late ‘Fifties, she opened up her parents

house as a salon for the movers and shakers of the early bossa nova scene - Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto and others to hang out in. In the early sixties, as bossa nova exploded internationally, Nara rose to stardom. Soft and sweet, moody and sensuous, she performed pop and beautiful samba and bossa standards and established her reputation as one of the outstanding talents of her generation. She toured Japan, Brazil and France with Sergio Menzies and returned to record political songs that were critical of Brazil’s prevailing military junta. Nara’s catalogue of recordings are so magical, of such a consistently high standard, they are sacrosanct in Brazil. this compilation concentrates on recordings made in 1967 her absolute best period. Nara Leao has more recently began to cultivate an audience in Japan where like Astrud Gilberto, Elis Regina and Claudine Longet her sweetness strikes a real chord. A biography of Nara Leao as a history of bossa nova has just been published in Brazil. Sergio Cabral, “It’s a mystery why she hasn¹t been recognized as one of the most influential characters of our music. We forget people easily. But I believe that, at least unconsciously, the revolution she started was realized by the people who surrounded her.”

SPACEMEN 3
Playing with Fire      2xcd      $16.80

Every once in a while a record comes along that somehow manages to define an era. In the late 80’s there can be no doubt that one such record was released - and that record was “Playing With Fire” by Spacemen 3.

Fuelled by narcotic indulgence and an overwhelming sense of darkness it was rightly hailed as a classic at the time and is still considered to be one of the greatest albums of the time by many today. Its mesmerising beauty and sublime originality are still recognised as a genuine triumph to this day. complete with live versions of “Suicide” and “Repeater” and recordings of “Che” and “May The Circle Be Unbroken”. Not only that but they’ve also included a second CD full of studio out-takes and demos, including the Spacemen 3 version of “Any Way That You Want Me” - the song which went on to become Spiritualized’s debut single.

NEIL YOUNG
Living with War      cd      $15.59

MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Neil is one of the greats and this is one of the most provocative Neil Young records. Living with War is raw and real. TrueMajorityACTION is streaming the album.

You can also send a message to Congress telling them to require that the troops leave Iraq this year. I did it — why don’t you check it out? Here’s the URL for the music and the action.

NICO
All Tomorrow’s Parties: Nico Live      dvd      $19.49

A brand new, previously unseen DVD featuring one of the great all-time rock music icons - Nico. One of the most fascinating figures of rock’s fringes, Nico hobnobbed, worked, and was romantically linked with an incredible assortment of the most legendary entertainers of the ’60s.

Nico first rose to fame as a European supermodel, also landing a bit part in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita film. In the mid-1960’s she moved to New York, where Andy Warhol installed her as a vestigial presence and occasional lead singer for the Velvet Underground. The band never really accepted her as a bona fide member and she departed in 1967, but not before contributing unforgettable deadpan vocals to three of the songs on their classic 1967 debut album. Nico embarked on a solo career, recording folk-rock-flavored songs for her debut Chelsea Girl album with assistance from Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, and John Cale. Her 1969 follow-up, The Marble Index, was a dramatic departure that unveiled her doom-laden, gothic persona, produced by Cale and prominently featuring her deep vocals, impenetrable lyrics, and ghostly harmonium. Her subsequent ’70s albums explored much the same territory, with assistance from Cale and influential art rockers like Brian Eno. She fought a constant struggle with a massive drug habit and tangled personal life and eventually died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Ibiza in 1988. The original goth rocker, Nico’s albums are demanding and bleak, but map a unique and starkly powerful vision that has become more influential with age. “All Tomorrow’s Parties” features extremely rare material from two shows Nico played in the UK in the early 1980’s.

STONE ROSES
Stone Roses      LP      $22.99

Red vinyl. The color vinyl was originally issued in 1989. The Stone Roses eponymously titled debut album is now regarded as the defining release of the late 80’s early 90’s ‘Madchester’ music scene.

Byrdsian jangly guitar pop songs are injected with the attitude of The Rolling Stones. It includes the singles ‘She Bangs The Drums’, ‘Made Of Stone’ and ‘I Am The Resurrection’. Among my fave is the classic I Wanna Be Adored.

I am the Resurrection and I am the light… I couldn’t ever bring myself to hate you as I’d like (always wondered who was saying these lines… JHC? hmm… lol!)

—
note: Even if I’m stomped with work, doesn’t mean I have no time to listen to great music! There are actually over 50 releases and restocks announced by DARLA, but then again I just posed here what I like most (and don’t have yet, for that matter) hehe…

Worker dead at desk for five days.

I haven’t checked the authenticity of this story yet. I found this while blog hopping for Illo Friday. Click the image below to read the article.

At least this made me thankful that I have such an upbeat cheery atmosphere at work, and constant deadlines make us bug each other once in a while. (This, now is also a means to check if the person next to you is still breathing)

I pray that I only find a sleeping colleague and not otherwise. LOL..

But seriously, the moral of the story is right. Don’t work too hard. Nobody notices anyway. And, yep, there is life outside the workplace. This one goes out to the workaholics out there!

And Happy Labor Day!

woeha no work with pay today!

1998 - Hai Shuet Yeung single-handedly painted the world’s longest painting, measuring 201.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide. Painted on a single unbroken roll of water-colour paper between 3rd March and 6th November 1998. It depicts 5,339 carps.

Her site claimed to be the only place where you can see it in one full image, with zoom details. I think my browser needed plug ins for it to show. Maybe you could see it. Visit Yeung’s artstudio.

Nov, 2004 - About a dozen Chinese painters have began working on a 206-meter-long oil painting. The painting portrays a historical period of 206 years, depicting the entire history of the Mongolian people. Read details here.

Note that, it’s only 4.5 metres in difference. hmmm… I am not sure if they have finished it. Now for the latest…

March, 2005 - A painting which measured 2,978.4 m (nearly 3-km) was created by over 3,000 students from various educational establishments in the United Arab Emirates.

But, who’s up for a challange?

Well if you live in/near Quezon City, or willing to fly from anywhere across the globe (ehem), have the passion for painting.. (being a pro is not a requirement ok) and want to have your names immortalized together with other fellow artists..

Then hold your breaths for a second or two before jumping (or falling) off your seats, Cancel all your schedules on April 22 til May 20. (or any day in between) for we are gonna break that World Record! And make it to The Guinness!

On The Spot Artists Association, Inc. (OTSAA), together with local government organizations will be hosting this historical event on April 22 to May 20,2006 (targetted schedule, note that it might extend depending on the number of participants) at Rotary Park, Zabarte Subd., Barangay Kaligayahan, Quezon City.

For details, visit OTSAA or contact artxperience(at)yahoo(dot)com

Some Reminders:

- The Target: 5 Kilometers or 5,000 meters - longest painted canvas on acrylic paint madium.

- The theme: “Fishes of the Ocean” This is a symbolic image representing the people and the ocean as our world (Mother Earth) in peace and harmony. This painting will act as the Great Message for Humanity for World Peace and concern for the Environment.

- The canvas is divided every meter per participant.

- Each meter is Equivalent to the corresponding amount of PHP 1,000 (or about 19.50 USD)

- Local or Foreign tourists may register thru their contact travelling agent authorized by the Department of Tourism, Quezon City, Philippines

Read the full list of RULES

So hmm… am I up to it? How about you?

So.. see you there! (?)

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photo credit: worth1000.com

The Horror:
10 days of heavy rains;
375 homes had disappeared;
nearly 100 acres of land covered;
50 feet of mud burried all houses, a school, and residents alive;
250 pupils and teachers were at the school when this happened;
only 1 child and 1 adult found nearby;
83 people have been found alive;
19 have been found dead;
estimated 200 dead and 1,500 - 2,000 missing…

2 other villages affected;
3,000 evacuees huddled at a municipality hall;
11 villages in Leyte evacuated due to landslide concerns…

Now, mud covered all the houses that once stood in Guinsaugon, in the town of St Bernard on the island of Leyte, Southern part of the Philippines.

Greenpeace said illegal logging may prove to have contributed to the mudslide. Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies blamed a combination of the weather and the type of trees prevalent in the area.

Read about them:
- Philippines Landslide Deaths May Top 1,500
- Mud wipes out Philippines village
- Mudslide traps kids in school

Local News:
- ‘We’re alive, dig us out’
- In buried school, desperate text messages — then silence

Photos:
In pictures: Philippines mudslide

—
Sometimes, I feel I am lucky that I don’t live near/at places as these, nor know anyone who lived there. But I feel for them, as they are as well my brothers and sisters…

Prayers are not the only thing they need right now, also Help!

Please Donate for the Leyte mudslide victims:
- Red Cross Red Crescent | RedCross.ph
- Donate (contribute to: Disaster Relief Emergency Fund)

“An estimated 30,000 of people had gone to the stadium to watch the anniversary presentation of Wowowee, a popular TV gameshow in the Philippines. The crowd, all trying to get into the 13,000-seat stadium, most of which waited in line for days, tried their luck to get a chance to win 1m peso ($19,250), which was said to be given to each of 2 lucky winners.

The stampede, considered the worst in the country so far, broke out as fans rushed toward the gates of the Philsports Arena (formerly ULTRA), at close to 7 a.m. which resulted to 88 deaths and 350 injured.”

I came home at around 6:30 am and went to sleep. I heard of the news soon as I woke up, and news said that 70 people died. The toll rose per hour, and as of the latest news, there are 88 deaths and 350 injured.

Tragedies like these bring emotional uproar from all over. There is even a Forum asking What went wrong? But who is to be blamed? Some people blame:

the undisciplined crowd,

“The people from behind, not the people in front, kept on pushing and shoving the people in front of them. Eventually this gate gave way. That’s when the people right in front of the crowd stumbled, and then they piled up.” - Rene Luspo, spokesman for the network

The shoving started when someone from the crowd shouted that the show’s staff were distributing free tickets that give the holders a chance to win a house and lot, a taxi, a passenger jeepney, or P10,000. And denied that the mayhem erupted when someone shouted “May bomba! (There’s a bomb!).” - Raul Medina, Police Superintendent

the organizers,

“If you predict that there’s going to be a huge crowd, you should be ready with ambulances and communications, you should plan for the worst. We have a lot of people who wanted to help but could not get in immediately.” - AP quotes Gordon.

“For a huge organization such as ABS-CBN not to have anticipated such a tragety is gross negligience. What do we learn from these tragedies? absolutely nothing. When everything fails, we blame the Filipino mentality instead of the real culprits, who were the producers, directors, and staff of the program. Those people were there because of their promotions. They were there because they were anticipating some rewards as advertized. Now the tragedy strikes, it is now the victims’ fault.” - malafunkshun

even the host, Willie Revillame,

“I really do not know if their purpose is to help people, but I have seen this guy have a nasty streak. He seems to trivialize the pain of people for the sake of a few laughs. Case in point, in one of his shows, a young child passed gas and rather than calm an already nervous child, he would make fun of him to the point of making him cry. To add insult to injury, he bribes him and makes him dance like a trained monkey for a few measely pennies. That is complete arrogance at its worst.” - viewer named Pepe

But should we start pointing on our fingers now?

It’s sad to know that instead of going out into the world, find a job, and work hard, a lot of our brothers and sisters are just relying on shows like this to help them. When will we change this attitude that we have? Helping others is good but we should not just give, but teach people the value of hard work.

And it’s sad to know how some people take advantage of the weaknesses of others, to have personal gain. And some people just do not care about anything else other than themselves.

Indeed, we should learn from this tragedy. Whether there is someone to blame or not, the question now is.. are we really gonna learn from this?

—
credits:
*Pictures | BBC News | CNN News
*Wowowee: what went wrong? |ABS-CBN

Trivia time… Since it’s the start of the Chinese New Year, commonly known in the West as the Lunar New Year.. I’d like to share some facts about the Dragon we always see at the streets during these times..

Legend of the Yellow Emperor Some scholars report the first emperor of China Huang Di (Yellow Emperor) used a snake for his coat of arms. Every time he conquered another tribe, he incorporated his defeated enemy’s emblem into his own. Huang Di was immortalized into a dragon that looks like his emblem. That explains why the Chinese dragon has a body of a snake; the scales and tail of a fish; the antlers of a deer; the face of a qilin (a deer-like mythical creature with fire all over its body); and two pairs of talons of eagles; and the eyes of a tiger-lion.

They fly in the sky among the clouds. Almost all pictures of Chinese dragons show them playing with a flaming pearl. Supposedly it is the pearl that gives them their power and allows them to ascend to heaven. Chinese dragons are occasionally depicted with bat-like wings grown out of the front limbs, but most do not have wings.

Chinese dragons are strongly associated with water in popular belief. They are believed to be the rulers of moving bodies of water, such as waterfalls, rivers, or seas. They can show themselves as water spouts

Also, since the Chinese consider Huang Di as their ancestor, they sometimes refer to themselves as “the descendants of the dragons”.

So to our Chinese friends and Pinoy friends having Chinese friends.. (lol)…

Kong Hei Fat Choi!
Happy New Year!

   

ok, I confess..

I’m not into sports, what more into boxing.. I always find it a waste of time. I’d rather read a book..

BUT

When it comes to another International Victory for us Filipinos, adding being in a hotel suite full of 15 relatives watching it, I couldn’t resist but join in the noisy fun. lol..

So blow by blow we watched. Round by round the tension grows.. until finally, ROUND 10, a knockout. And its a TKO.

Yes, Manny “Pacman” Paquiao won the fight against Eric “El Terrible” Morales of Mexico.

It was their second encounter and this time, no cheating (as for the former there were rumors of an obvious scoring bias) Oh well, as my aunties scream.. “Cge! Lumuhod ka ngayon, Morales!” (Yes! Go down on your knees this time, Morales!)

Yeah and as a simultaneous scream.. it felt like the whole building cheered! even the whole country did too!

And if thats not enough for one Glorious Victory, listen.. as news came that Jimrex Raca won on the First Round against the boxing champ of Dominican Republic!

Go Pinoy!

It only shows how us, Filipinos, can withstand the hardest challenge with confidence and determination. We don’t rely on luck.. we make Luck work for us!

—
noteworthy: for those interested, visit Manny’s Official Site at Pacland!

  

This is a short posty to appologize to those who attempted to post comment/s two days ago. Going to the Dashboard was not even possible. Blogsome was having a server revamp and adding an additional bandwidth took them hours. Even a day!

Well hopefully, now that they are finished with the changes, their claim for a faster connection will be true to all users. As for the visitors here at Dry the Rain, thank you for your continued support and comments are enabled now.. please give us a holler!

.. that it’s about time i learned you always lose to blogs with baby pics on BE-BOTB. ha! yeah.. but have to admit, those are lovely baby pics.

But opening up a page with baby pics aren’t always fun. esp if those pics depics the horrendous monstrosity of the US military. This just makes me sick to the bones. (note that i am too striken to post those pics here)

Now the SICK NEWS:

i first came across this blog, Chemical Bush, White Phosporus (A warning tho, before viewing, this is not for the weak of heart.) which both agitated and weakened me.

Searched on the news, how the coined “White Death” befell to poor Fallujah a year ago. How U.S. warplanes illegally dropped white phosphorus incendiary bombs on civilian populations, burning the skin off Iraqi victims. Resulting to a sickening odor of rotting flesh and sight of dead dilapidated bodies. A massacre without no choosing, be it places where innocent children live, which they admit of knowing. Between 4,000 and 6,000, mostly civilians, were killed. In addition to 36,000 of the city’s 50,000 homes were destroyed, along with 60 schools and 65 mosques and shrines.

And how such a sick excuse that they admit on using phosphorus but denies using chemical warfare!?!!!! And you let these people rule over you?! Sick Sick World!

Who would not abhor these people? And the mockery that “the leadership responsible for the wasting of Fallujah has yet to be held accountable”? We all know who he is they are.

You cannot say you are going to invade a country to find chemical weapons and prevent them being used, and then admit that you have used chemical weapons yourself. - Doug Henderson, the former Armed Forces Minister

(add that they found none but still continue to invade)

—
Related Articles:
  Wasting Fallujah
  BBC: White phosphorus: weapon on the edge