Guitar Hero (A Parody Of Foreigner's 'Juke Box Hero')

Standing in the shop, he needs to get home
Unbox his copy , pre-ordered months ago
Heard the game get going, saw orange through to green
Looking at his TV, couldn't believe what he could see

His plastic guitar, just blew him away
He got stars in his eyes, and the very next day
He got some friends, from his local store
They didn't know how to play it, but he knew for sure

That fake guitar, felt good in his hands
Didnt take long, to understand
That plastic guitar, slung way down low
His little Rock Band, playing 'Say It Ain't So'

He started playin'
Aint never gonna stop
Gotta get to expert
The leaderboard he needs top

And be a Guitar Hero, (got stars in his eyes)
He's a Guitar Hero
Plastic guitar,(Guitar Hero, stars in his eyes)
Guitar Hero, he plays it day and night

Can't do without the game, he needs to play more
Like a celebrity, in his local store
Shivers when he thinks, what he'd do without the game
that plastic guitar and his rise to fame

Now he needs to keep playin
He just cant stop
Gotta keep on playin
That leaderboard he must top

And be a Guitar Hero, (got stars in his eyes)
He's a Guitar Hero, (got stars in his eyes)
Yeah, Guitar Hero, (got stars in his eyes)
With that fake guitar he feels alive
All day and night

Yeah, he's gotta keep playin
He needs to stop
Gotta keep on playin
Not one place can he drop

And be a Guitar Hero, (got stars in his eyes)
He's a Guitar Hero, (got stars in his eyes)
Just one game, (put stars in his eyes)
He's just a Guitar Hero, (aah aah aah)
Guitar Hero, (Guitar Hero, he's got stars in his eyes)
Stars in his eyes

So, what ya think?

You can see the other parody here.

Vote XeNonX!

Rascal Flatts at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden NJ on Friday Sept. 12. Tickets on sale next Sat. Aug. 2 at 10:00 a.m. $35.75 - $75.75

Derek Trucks Band at the Highline Ballroom and Blender Theater on Thurs. Nov. 6 and Fri. Nov. 7. Tickets on sale for Highline at noon and 10:00 a.m. for Blender.

Goldfrapp at Radio City Music Hall on Friday Sept. 12. T ickets on sale today at noon. $39.50 - $75.

The Whispers at the BB Kings on Sat. Rocktober 25. (7:30 and 10:00 shows) Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m.$40. Remember “And the Beat Goes On?”

Shemekia Copeland at BB Kings on Mon. Sept. 25. Tickets on sale Sat. at 10:00 a.m. $25.

Other items:

Buddy Guy’s new album “Skin Deep” was released this past Tuesday and the 30 second samples on I-Tunes sound great. This is his first recorded album with all original tunes. He gets help from Susan Tedeschi on “Too Many Tears.” Also contributing to the album are Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph and Derek Trucks. If you have never seen Guy in concert, you are so missing out.

One Day as a Lion, the new band with Zach De La Rocha and Jon Theodore (drummer from Mars Volta) put out an EP of 4 songs. If you were a fan of Rage, you will definitely enjoy it. “Wild International” sounds great.

Rush has released a never heard before version of “Working Man” due to popular demand as a result of the song being released on the “Rock Band” video game a few weeks back. Check out this video on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAKhEzdSYPI

The Rolling Stones are suing rapper Lil Wayne for his song “Playing with Fire.” The Stones reps say it’s a clear derivative of their song with the same title and he used it without their permission.

Have you ever been put on the spot to name your top 25 music acts of all-time? Well my oldest son put me on notice that he wanted my favorites, with an accompanying song and a reason why I liked them? I was resistant because I felt that I would leave an artist off of my list. However, he keenly pointed out that if they did not quickly come to mind, how could they be in my top 25? (Putting them in order does take some thinking and time but again the first 25 that come to mind) So here goes: (you too can play along at home):

25. Tom Petty

Favorite Song: You Wreck Me

Why?: Like fine wine, he gets better with age. An American classic.

24. Motley Crue

Favorite Song: Kickstart My Heart

Why?:Love their energy! The other side of me wanted to be them.

23. Black Crowes

Favorite Song: There’s Gold in Them Hills

Why?: Always wanted to transform into Chris Robinson for just one tour.

22. Stone Temple Pilots

Favorite Song: Crackerman

Why?: Love their version of grunge.

21.  Shinedown

Favorite Song: I Dare You

Why?: Their music is in my blood stream.

20. Black Sabbath

Favorite Song: Fairies Wear Boots

Why?: Masters of Metal, period, end of story.

19. Patsy Cline

Favorite Song: Why Can’t He Be You

Why?: Her voice is mesmerizing & takes me far away; also my mother’s influence.

18. Sam Cooke

Favorite Song: Nothing Can Change This Love

Why?: Favorite male singer ever.

17. Karen Carpenter

Favorite Song: (They Long to Be) Close to You

Why?: Favorite female singer. This song reminds me of my mother.

16. Cheap Trick

Favorite Song: Lookout (Live)

Why?: A band that never dies, pure fun in concert.

15. Aerosmith

Favorite Song: I Wanna Know Why

Why?: Hard rocking boys from Boston that are just great!

14. Boston

Favorite Song: Smokin’

Why?: How can you not get psyched listening to Smokin’?

13. AC/DC

Favorite Song: Thunderstruck

Why?: Never sold out. Head banging to the end!!

12. Bee Gees

Favorite Song: I’ve Gotta Get A Message to You

Why?: Great Harmonizing vocals.

11. Soundgarden

Favorite Song: Mailman

Why?: Grunge music at its best! Under-rated.

And now the long awaited top ten (who was waiting? I don’t know but here it is anyway)

10. Kiss

Favorite Song: King of the Night Time World (Live)

Why?: I wanted to be every member of Kiss ten times over!!!

9. Foo Fighters

Favorite Song: What If I Do?

Why?: Who’s cooler than Dave Grohl?

8. Collective Soul

Favorite Song: Crown

Why?: Passionate band and I’m all about passion.

7. Led Zeppelin

Favorite Song: Boogie With Stu

Why?: Page, Plant, Bonham and Jones. ‘Nuff said.

6. Metallica

Favorite Song: Master of Puppets

Why?: See them live and tell me you don’t like them?

5. Tesla

Favorite Song: Lady Luck

Why?: So under-rated it pisses me off and makes me love them that much more.

4. The Cars

Favorite Song: It’s All I Can Do

Why?: One of my first loves of rock music.

3. Foreigner

Favorite Song: Seventeen

Why?: I WANTED TO BE LOU GRAMM.

2. The Beatles

Favorite Song: I’m Only Sleeping

Why?: So many great tunes in such a short amount of time. Timeless band.

1. Van Halen

Favorite Song: Feel Your Love Tonight

Why?: Greatest live band ever!

Now I am not going to say who was omitted from this list because the rule is that you can’t take too much time. It has to be the first 25 that come to mind. I know I left off some whoppers but this is my list. I want to thank my son for making this a fun process.

Back on this day in 1965, Bob Dylan performed his first non-acoustic set at the Newport Folk Festival to a very hostile crowd.

Back on this day in 1969, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young had their first live performance, it was at the Fillmore East in New York.

He is 49 years old, looks like 70 years old, has got a blurred vision and a habit of chewing tobacco.

I just want to share the amazing experience I had with him on the journey from and to office.

Because of his lost senses he drives very very slow, slow to an irritating speed, that I wish there should be a lower speed limit as well.

At times, I have to tell him, whats on the road, the signal has turned green, take a left, etc etc.

It feels like I am a instructor, instructing a new pupil on how to drive a car.

He calls me "Sharad Kaka".(he is double my age.)

Does not know how to operate a mobile, he can just pick up the phone, as he knows which button to be pressed for that. He takes at least a minute to reply to the call.

He is an amazing observer, he tells me that Toyota Innova resembles a pig, the airplane a fish.

He told me that all the scientist and people who make things, take inspiration from the nature.

Once he asked me can an Indian man get married to a gori mam( a foreigner). I told him, yes they can.He then told me that he had once pick up a couple in which the guy was Indian and the lady a gori.

He asked me how they would be communicating? as he was skeptical that the gori mam would know Hindi or Marathi.I reminded him that English is a language too.

Laughingly he asked me, which language would their children speak.

He asked me do all foreigners belong to England? How to differentiate between all of them, Is English the only language spoken outside India?

For many days he believed that I am a student, and he has the same belief for my colleagues as well.

When I informed him that one of colleague got engaged, he was surprised and asked me that how can parents get their kids engaged when they are still studying? He should earn atleast enough to take care of himself and his wife. 

When I told him that we all work here, and its a Software company, he asked me what is Software??

Oops, I really had a difficult time making him understand what a software is?

and when I thought he understood what a Software is, he asked me from where do we get the raw material to make Software.

Once while taking a left turn he put his left hand across from the driving seat, his hand was not long enough to come out from the side though, I could not stop my laughter for hours to come.

Apart from his funny habits, I feel he is one of the rare innocent people left on this earth.

The Republic also ranked first for quality of accommodation and second for luxury living.

Its closest rival, Hong Kong, was ranked fifth overall, though it took top spot in terms of an expat’s ability to earn and save.

Read more

The Expat Explorer survey for HSBC Bank International revealed that, as well as being top overall, expats rate Singapore best for quality of accommodation and second in terms of luxury living.

The survey was conducted between February and April, with data analysis conducted by Freshminds. It looked at a range of topics relevant to expats' lives, including living standards, an expat's ability to earn and save, a country's popularity and the level of luxury experienced.

Read more

India is not a place to visit for the faint of heart aor the weak of will. Being ripped off is a daily occurrence, and can become as normal as that ambling cow walking alongside the main road- if you let it. Everything from hailing a rickshaw in the morning to eating at that roadside eatery to purchasing a pashmina shawl will become a battle of wills and tactics. If a buyer doesn't stand their ground or demand a lower price, then you can be sure they are being over-charged. And it doesn't just apply to purchasing goods and services but to a wide array of scenarios: activities, finding accommodation, looking for a place to eat, being offered into a business...all are rife with con artists.

Some travelers see it as a matter of principle and will not allow others to rip them off for even 50 cents, not budging on their price. Meanwhile, some people just can't be bothered or don't know any better so they pay up to 100 times the regular amount for services and products. Moreover, the seasoned traveler will find that life in India is available on the cheap. One can be clean and comfortable on less than 20 dollars a day (food, drink, and accommodation included), and if staying long-term, even less. Often , there is no need to bargain hard to the last penny.

One must keep in mind that most people encountered in India believe that foreigners are rich- why shouldn't a firengi be charged more than the locals? Just by virtue of the fact that one could afford a ticket to India to visit for leisure indicates to rickshaw drivers and food wallahs alike that someone is moneyed. Yes, this is a misconception in the sense that most people work hard for the money and don't like to give it all away when not necessary. However, their conception is true when compared to the daily income average of 2$ for over 800 million Indians.

I have heard stories of people taking a rickshaw for the day and paying up 5000 rs. instead of the 400 maximum. That's 132.00$ vs. 12$. Which would you choose to pay? I've also experienced honest drivers and salespeople who quote the local price, or even lower, right off the bat. I've been at the butt-end of transactions and both my pockets and patience have felt the toll.

To prevent the stress and confusion, here is a rundown of the most encountered scams and some key information to keep in mind for your safety and peace of mind.

"Laaang Deestance!"

This is the inevitable yell of an auto-rickshaw driver as you are getting closer to your destination. He will surely ask you for x more rupees, even though you have already agreed on a price and you know he knows you're a foreigner and that he's thinking of pulling one over you. What can you possibly do when it's just you and the driver and you're not too sure about distances and pricing? Also, maybe he is telling the truth and he though your end point was closer?

1. The golden rule is to negotiate the price before hand, so that there won't be any surprises or angry words thrown afterwards. You can always go back to that price, saying something like "I know laaang deestance, but you said 150 and I'm giving 150. You said!" Once you know the right price and know what the locals pay, it's much easier and less stressful to get to where you want to go. If one driver won't give you the price you want, just go to another driver!

2. The price should not go up depending on how many people you will be traveling with. For example, you ask a driver how much to x location and he says 50. As soon as you round up your gang of 5, the price suddenly goes up to 250 ("50 rs per person!). This does not make sense. The price would go up a bit because the rickshaw would be heavier with more people, which means more fuel will be used, but not an astronomical jump like that. You have to use judgment with prices. For example, in the above case, I would have coughed up somewhere in between, maybe 100 rs. Because there are more people, the cost can be split.

3. The drivers get a commission from taking tourists to certain hotels, restaurants and businesses, which jacks up the price you will be paying for these goods and services. Once landing at a train station and being harassed incessantly by these rickshaw-wallahs, you grab one and ask for a cheap hotel nearby. Asking for help from drivers in the west makes sense since they can give you an honest recommendation, but in India, where even advice is dolled out with the expectation of return on investment, it's not such a good idea. The driver will not take you to a hotel where he has heard great reviews, or a popular store, but one from where he will receive 100 rs. for taking you there, in addition to a cut of whatever you buy. This means that the price of that lovely choli lehnga will sky-rocket from 400 rs. to over 1000 rs. It's infinitely better to have an idea of where you are, where you are planning to go, and come armed with your own top 3 choices for accommodations. As for shopping, go to any of the bazaars and haggle for a price, although shopping presents its own trials...

"Beautiful silver necklace...2 000 rupees. But for you, 1800 rupees!"

Shopping in India is a delight for the senses- the most stunning colors, the most brilliant jewels, the best food and drink to snack on during your splurges. It's also, however, a shock to the senses, especially when it comes time to negotiating price. Also, it might not be silver. Or gold. Or whatever stone or material or brand the chosen item is presented as. A challenge but always an adventure, shopping in India is unparalleled.

1. Paying an extra 5 bucks isn't the end of the world, but coughing up an added "foreign fee" of 50.00$ is extreme and unneeded. So use common sense and keep a cool head. After being charged more than something is worth day-in and day-out for months, it may get to you; create a mantra for those times when you are charged that extra dollar or two, i.e. "This person needs it more than me". Some people get flustered and angry, demanding a lower price, others are too easy-going and over-paying becomes a habit. You need a healthy medium, I think. Don't shy away from bargaining long and hard, as it seems the custom in India. Keep in mind that you may just never pay the standard price that the locals pay just by virtue of the fact that you are a foreigner. Even people from overseas who have lived in India for years still get charged astronomical prices, even after dishing out some local lingo.

2. Test all expensive precious, semi-precious stones, and metals at a lab. This is a common problem more in Rajasthan than anywhere else, where most stones are sold. Seriously, have you ever seen an aquamarine the size of a fist? Neither have I, and maybe it doesn't exist. So before investing, the seller should always allow testing in a lab. If not, you can be sure it's fake. For pricey textiles, for example if purchasing 100% silk sheets, pilow cases, blankets, or just a beautiful sari, know the fabrics and price of workmanship. I have bought hand-embroidered skirts for 10$ and some for 50$ and seen some on sale for 2 000.00$ And that's all in Canadian dollars, not rupees. There's a general idea of going prices here for your browsing convenience.

3. Places advertised as production plants or wholesalers are often cover-ups for what they really are: a store like any other. They get their products from the same place as the other stores in the bazaars, and the material and make is the same. "No, no, madam! We are making these sheets with 100% silk and hand-made. Not like other places where it's cheap quality". And then you see the same exact packaged bedding at the bazaar later that day. And in the next store...and in the next. All at different prices.

"Rupees, shampoo, bisqweet, pens...?"

The children and beggars in India are something else entirely that any Westerner has never before encountered in their life. They are often persistent, pushy and rake you with guilt. Lepers, children, mothers, old people every single day every corner of India. And there's nothing they can gain with your money, since most belong to a begging mafia don. I always tried to give food and water, but it was always refused, a sign that they are taken care of in that regard; they wouldn't see the majority of the rupees given them in any given day. Yes, I caved and bought pens for children or biscuits at times, but never gave money directly. Just be wary.

Overall...

Overall, the key is to act confident. These people, who have made a lifestyle out of conning foreigners and locals alike, can smell inexperience from a mile away. That unavoidable bushy-tailed, bright-eyed "ooh"ing " and "ah"ing will draw them to you like flies to honey. This is quite the grim cynical look at one aspect of travel in India, but don't be afraid or turned off by it! Also, picking up a few words in Hindi, or (if in the South) Tamil, will jack up the level of respect locals have for you. Instead of answering "straight ahead" or asking "how much?" in English, choose the local language and people will assume you have experience in the country and won't stand to be taken advantage of. Also, picking up a few naughty words here and there won't hurt, since you'll know when they're being used on you- and how to reciprocate!

TSA have officially accepted my challenge and now it's up to me to claim victory. I want you XeNonX readers! I need you to vote for XeNonX in the parody off so I can win, well...nothing really but it's my pride at stake here guys.

Anyway I would like to announce that I will be parodying Foreigner's Juke Box Hero and that it has now been confirmed that all parodies will have to be submitted on (or before) Friday 1st August.

Let the games begin!

In its report, 74 per cent of American senior executives surveyed indicated that they were either 'dissatisfied' or 'extremely dissatisfied' with both the cost of housing and office leases.

While these costs have been a long-standing grievance for expatriates in Singapore, this year's figures are a significant jump from 2007's numbers, up from 61 per cent and 45 per cent who were unhappy about housing and office leasing costs, respectively.

Read more

As we try to fit in, sometimes, or always; overtly or covertly, we may 'lose' ourselves to certain degrees, which may not have completely desirable effects. I am not talking about spiritual growth, which requires a certain loss of self, especially in the Buddhist tradition. I am talking about psycholoogically, morally, personality-wise. 

Many of us came from the West in search of different things; different from what locals expect, or even from what our fellows think and expect from this type of migration. The cynical 'you couldn't find a job back home' is something we all have heard from Koreans, and should never be tolerated, unless in some bizarre case in which it is actually true.

And so it is up to each of us what this journey is about. I suggest that out of politeness, my fellow expats never accept rude and short-sighted assessments such as these, which are often merely the result of Koreans putting their experiential stamp on our muti-cultured and vastly freer existence.

The worst thing we can do is to try and become completely part of the local fabric, which while providing many conveniences, is vastly limited by some peoples' reckoning in terms of social mobility, intellectual and artistic freedom, and eventually, cultural acceptance--in contrast to what we left behind.

In the desire to fit in, we are in danger of losing our identies, if we are not careful.

The importance of maintining a close connection with whom you are cannot be underestimated. The foreign expat, by definition, is by some standards and opinions, automatically a felxible person, thus his committment to live in a vastly different culture. Taking this flexibility to its ends, the foreigner often molds himself to his new environment. This is beneficial to him or her, and to the environment and those in it, in may ways. By adapting to a new culture, we grow, and thus can share, and those around us can grow.

Of course there are those who will look at this in a cynical fashion, and they should, but not for too long. My point here is not to create a debate. I am telling you what I have experienced, and what I have seen in my friends' experiences.

Foreigners here in Korea--over time--change in some ways, almost everything about themselves in order to fit in and to survive--and to find happiness, and in many cases it has benefited them; but in many other cases, it has driven them to extreme emotional ends. It is in the changing (read compromising in beliefs as to what is right and wrong for them) that they have been hurt, even if they have grown.

I am talking about the open mind as a place to be trapped at times, not a place from which one always grows happily. I am talking about the cases in which our openness is perceived as a weakness, and from which we are taken advantage of.

Everyone out there protective of Korean culture will bristle at these words and call me negative; but all of you know exactly what I am talking about; whether the infringing parties took advantage of us by accident, or on purpose, and you all understand what I mean, either from first hand experience, or from stories you have heard. Many of you--Koreans in fact--warned me personally against this kind of thing.

To Be Continued...

CA

I evolve. I have evolved.
From a seedling to now,
a blooming rose,
hoping to nurture a rose bush.

I have grown
away from my family.

I’m an alien,
a foreign concept,
I welcome discomfort,
even pain,
to learn and grow.

I’m an alien, a foreigner to
my own flesh and blood.

I feel like I live
on the outskirts of their lives,
at the edge of the garden,
on the periphery,
not the center.

…I wonder if Mama has ever regretted having me,
ever played with the idea of her life, her family without me…

Was I a mistake? Was I an unwanted burden?
What about my brother or sister before me,
the one Mama uprooted,
the one who didn’t get a chance at his|her life?
Did she abort his|her breath for mine?
I’ve uprooted, too, like Mama’s decision then.
I’m a hypocrite.

What if I can’t have another baby?
What if I have to pay for the rest of my life,
a life without a family?

That will kill me.
I would rather die.

I am here to have children,
nurture and love them in ways I only dreamt about.

I want to live a life full of love for my family,
planted firmly and growing.

GRRR. I still have a TON of stuff to do before I leave for Egypt. I STILL haven’t registered for housing and I STILL haven’t gotten my housing assignment which is freaking ANNYOYING!

I heard from some people that the new campus doesn’t have enough housing for all of the students so a ton of people are having to find apartments on their own. HELLO?!?! All of us international students are going to a foreign country and rely on the housing provided instead of having to try to find housing on our own, and a landlord that won’t take advantage of the fact that we are a foreigner.

Oh, and not to mention that the housing the campus provides is 1.5 hours away from the actual campus. WHAT were they thinking??? Making the AUC housing that far? Seriously.

OK, Seriously…I gotta make some phone calls, but I’m tired of being put on hold for an eternity!

Other things I STILL need to do.

Make sure my stinking ticket doesn’t get cancelled because the airlines are going nutz-O

Make sure I get housing, and register for classes

Take care of the Gilman scholarship stuff (which I’m grateful to have gotten)

GO to Houston and get a visa

Get a physical examination and a million shots

Not get annoyed about how unorganized AUC is moving to the new campus!!!

….and a MILLION other things.

If I HAD more time, I’d vent some more…but I must go now.

80'lerden 500 Yabancı Hit. Bölüm#1
Bölüm#1 içerisinde sanatçı isimleri A-J arası 150 adet şarkı mp3leri bulabilirsiniz.

500 80's Pop&Wave Songs Part#1
Part#1 contains Artist name A-J - 150 mp3 Songs

.

The Registration of land property is a time-consuming procedure, by which is attempted to centralize accurate elements about the estates that lie in our country. Such elements are the extent, area, to whom they belong to, who have rights on them, to which municipality or community they belong, etch.

The Cadastre comprises the last phase of the above attempt for registration of land property, so as to be possible, whoever is interested in an estate to get information for it by the familiar Cadastre Office. By knowing the address of the estate or its Code number, one may be able to get correct and valid info for any estate.

Obligation for submitting the assertion of the Law 2308/1995 has every natural or legal person which is entitled to a right of property or other written right on an estate.

Specifically, an assertion must submit all those who are owners of an estate, have right of possession (whole, limited), usufruct, or other real bondage, mortgage, attachement or other real assurance on the estate.
Obligation have those who administers foreign issues. Also those who obtained an estate from others, even if the others haven’t submitted the relevant assertion.

The land property may be urban, campestral, constructed or not.

It is worth noticing that what must be declared is the right that exists on the estate. If many have rights on the same estate, they all are obliged to submit the relevant assertion, mentioning the percentage of their right.

The time – limit for submitting the assertion for the Greek citizens begins on June 17, 2008 and expires on September 30, 2008. For the fellow – Greeks the time – limit begins on June 17, 2008 and expires on December 30, 2008.

Whoever obtains any of the above rights after the expiration of the time-limit for the submitting of the assertion of the Law 2308/1995, is obliged within one month after one has obtained the estate to declare it to the familiar Cadastre Office. If one has obtained it, within the time – limit of submitting the assertions, has the right to declare it within one of the above two time- limits.

Arcadia Law Office
Vriniou Con. Christine
Tel. (GREECE-0030)-6946 754560
http://www.arcadia-law-office.gr

Socioeconomic status, genetic makeup and ongoing debates on mestisaje aside, if in search of refuge from the United States I took up residence on any other continent, the core of my being would long for a return to the lands of my ancestors. My ethereal spirit and my collective memory with other indigenas and mestizo/as yearn to claim these territories as homeland."

Ana Castillo

from "A Countryless Woman: The Early Feminista," Massacre of the Dreamers: Essays on Xicanisma

Tags: mestisaje, indigenas, mestiza, homeland, foreigner

So, I’ll spell it out - the legato vocal chords of Foreigner’s lead singer, Lou Gramm, have been recording a new CD for CCM RADIO. Yeah, apparently, Lou Gramm is saved, according to this story from Billboard.

Most fans or former DJs (or both in my case) knew Gramm had a malignant brain tumor, which is why he left the band that created rock classics like the aforementioned, “Cold as Ice”, “I've Been Waiting for a Girl Like You”, “Hot Blooded” and “I Want to Know What Love Is”.

Now that he is healed, he's thinking differently now about his music (and maybe about his hair... geesh).

As for writing faith-based songs and adding his once melodious sound to them:

“It’s about how you can be so out of line with the way God would have you be and maybe have a major incident in your life kind of wake you up,” he explains. “I had my priorities not in order and I just think I’m looking at life in general a little bit differently.”

Evidently, he’s going on tour. MEMO to CCM and Alt-Jesus stations down the dial: If that’s the case, give him a shot. It can’t be worse than the old Petra or Stryper stuff.

OK, it may not be “Urgent” (Thanks, I'm here all week) but for the sake of the Gospel, maybe you can jam one for the roller skating rink aficionados across this great land of ours? And to prove there is still relevance to today’s generation, take it away SpongeBob!

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.1389682&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

I expect to get a lot of feedback from this as its something ive been looking at for nearly a year now. Why do relationships between Filipinas and Foreigners go wrong. There are many factors and although every relationship is unique many of the problems are similar.

As a British male i am confident and although i have respect for older generations and the knowledge they have i wouldnt let someone force a judgement i didnt agree with. I have a fairly high standard of living and have a lot of luxuries in life that most people in the Philippines only get to see on the TV.

Now most Filipinas that are either pro-active in looking for a foreign male are either from low or middle class backgrounds and have experience and knowledge of real poverty. Many have seen relatives die from medical needs which if there was money available wouldnt have happend. They live day to day as looking further in the future only gets hopes up that are unlikely to develop all in all the Filipina is practical with life.

Many find guys on the net generations older and this is where complications start. The majority of filipinas arent out to rob you blind and are likely to be loyal,loving and put the husband before most things over time. But you have to be practical to if your a 50+ guy with a 19+ woman she may like to cruise the malls with you and be content with all life throws but you have to give a bit back. Its ok sitting around most of the time but people need to be busy. Yes your semi or completely retired but your wife/girlfriend isnt and needs to get up to things that keep her occupied. Ive met several expats that treat their other half as a second citizen and this is likely to come back and bite them hard when they least expect it. Because although Filipinas will put up with crap for a time they dont have to and often will put up with it for the sake of peace but it doesnt mean they forget the way you treat them.

The other problem that occurs is many filipinas are lifted from poverty in one swoop and suddenly many family members are expecting to be lifted out of the same scenario and after helping a few members of family sometimes jelousy grows with other members that are outside the immediate family and also sometimes as a foreigner you are seen as an "outsider" a means to an end regardless of what you do. So be aware that not all problems are for you to fix and a lot of the time helping can make things a lot worse.

Aunts and parents, your new better half is likely to have a lot of responsibility and expectations to assist with aunts and parents that helped them through life with education, food on the table or anything else that happend before you met. Family is family here and a lot of the things i dont understand are put up with by families because of someone being an elder even though a lot of it pure greed or jelousy. A foreigner stamping his ground can make things worse for your wife and the best way ive seen people deal with this scenario is to create a distance from family via moving away from the families current location maybe not miles but far enough that your business becomes YOUR business and no one elses.

Communication is the key to keeping things rolling and working out from both sides, sometimes you will find your partner keeps things from you to save confrontation or sometimes to save you from worrying about things outside your control "that can be fixed when your back in the Philippines". Because unlike your wife you are not ruled by family your still a foreigner and can use that card to advantage. But many people create a drama out of a crisis because of a wife being stuck between her loyalty to her family and her loyalty to you. Best thing is to try and deal with things diplomatically and get a better understanding of Filipino culture and its habits. You dont want to be hated by your wifes family and you dont want to be taken as a fool. A good wife understands this and will suffer a lot of stress unless you strike the balance for her. She looks to you for leadership because many of the solutions are between you and the family not your wife but she is the one taking the brunt from both sides.

Spending too much money, its a big problem and bigger than you think. Because as soon as your girlfriend wife is attached to a foreigner she is automatically given millionaire status and it doesnt matter how much she trys to explain that life is still difficult people just dont listen and many will try to take advantage of that. So try and keep things low key, you dont need to spend lots of money on nice cars,electronics or a big house because your wife is more likely to feel at home with a small house a few animals and a multicab than having to deal with prying eyes and worrys about theft. Because at the beginning you are unlikely to both be in the Philippines all the time together which means she has the responsibility of the property. You can imagine how she would feel if something was stolen. So please be aware of that!

The American dream, this one real bugs me because its pumped into the Filipino culture 24/7 and the false expectations that are given can be shattered when a wife first heads to America or anywhere else. This is where things go back to telling the truth and communication. I come from the UK if i moved there with my wife we would probably be living in a 2 bedroom apartment for the same price i can buy several houses and a farm in the Philippines. Explain these things and your standard of living and the variables of prices.

Foreign interference, Ive heard this several times by Americans not sure if the same problem happens in the UK but a lot of the mentality is questioned by foreign women telling Filipinas how things are in the West and that her husband is mistreating her and she shouldnt have to do this and that. Its something that is difficult to stop but it all comes down on how you treat each other. Yes  my asawa (wife) may give me a back massage even if she is tired. But i do the same back. We find a happy medium where we are both content.

The green eyed monster, this is also something that has come up time and time again and i have never experienced personally, yes i have had ex-girlfriends who happily lived off my back. But when we split i was content to just take a bag of clothes, my car and computers. I really cant be bothered with the lawyers taking everything at least that way someone walks away with the majority of the goods and both debt free. But i know in most cases it doesnt happen that way. Money can always be a problem in a relationship as much as it gives you the things you desire it can take the things that are most important. Thats why i really dont care about cash. As long as i can provide for my daughters and family everything else can float through life.

To make a relationship work you really need to keep awake on what is going on if something doesnt feel right then there is probably something you dont know but need to find out to keep on an even keal. Filipinos in general dont like confrontation or stress. Many people get confused with poverty because they base things on western ideals. But if youve lived in a Bamboo house all your life can eat 3 meals a day and have a job even low paid most filipinos are content. So try not to change people to much. Respect its a way of life and many are happy to stay that way its not your job to change it. Respect your partner take good care of her and she will do the same.

In order to get a Re-Entry Permit （再入国許可-さいにゅうこくきょか-Sainyukokukyoka）you need the following:

1. Foreigner Registration Card (外国人登録証-がいこくじんとうろくしょう, GaikokujinTourokuSho)
2. Filled out Application for Re-Entry (Ministry of Justice Official Form)
3. Your Actual Passport (Copies Don't Work)
4. ¥3,000 for a Single Re-Entry, or ¥6,000 for Multiple Entry (Roughly $30USD or $60USD)

Basic Information:

For those who don't live in Japan, all non-Japanese people who are staying in the country for more than 3 months (this is usually people without tourist visas, so Working Holiday, Work Visas, Student Visas, etc.) have to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, to say where they are and what they're supposed to be doing with their visa. This is totally different than the Immigration Process at the Airport.

After a few weeks of registering at a City Hall nearest to your residence, you get an ID card called a Gaikokujin Touroku-sho (外国人登録証) or "Foreigner Registration Card".

All Non-Japanese People have to give back their Foreigner Registration Card when leaving the country, usually at Immigration, they take it back which then (I assume) it notifies the MOFA that you've left and you're no longer a registered Foreigner.

For people who have to leave the country and come back under the same visa, people having to visit home, going on a small trip to another asian country, etc... people need to let the Immigration Bureau know about their trip and gain permission to come back into the country without all the hassle of re-registering as a foreigner.

Now since that's clear, this guide is especially for Non-Japanese in the Nagoya, Aichi Area, but I'm sure can be applied to which ever closest Immigration Bureau is to your area. (入国管理間、にゅうこくかんりかん, Nyukoku Kanri Kan）

Getting to the Immigration Bureau:

Nagoya's Immigration Bureau recently relocated near the stop Nagoya Keiba-jo Mae (名古屋競馬所前）on the Aonami Line（あおなみ線). The Aonami Line starts at Nagoya Station (名駅 or 名古屋駅) and you can enter near the JR Shinkansen (新幹線) Side of the station (Bic Camera Side).

Nagoya Keiba-jo Mae (名古屋競馬所前) is the 6th stop on the Aonami Line- about 13 minutes away from Nagoya Station. Word of caution: 260 Yen, Aonami Line only runs every 15 minutes, and Subway Passes aren't valid, so schedule accordingly with the Aonami Line Nagoya Departure Timetable (Japanese).

After Arriving at Nagoya Keibajo Mae Station:

Here's a map from the Nagoya International Center that I kinda updated:

The original map had the Immigration Bureau right next door to the station, but its actually the next building over.

Here's the Station:

At the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau:

So 60m after taking a left at the train station, going past a large red Amusement/Internet Cafe on your left hand side you'll see this large building:

When you arrive, head to the 2nd floor's Application Counter (申請窓口-しんせいまどぐち-ShinseiMadoGuchi) is located. It looks like this:

[Note: Depending on how many people are there, you might want to fill out your paperwork before getting a number if there aren't many people.]

You just go to machine that prints out a processing number (受付番号-うけつけばんごう-Uketsuke Bangou), the ticket looks like this:

After taking a number in queue, fill out the Re-Entry Applciation Form: (It's in English, Portugese and Korean, no worries)

These forms are located right next to the machine that prints out the processing tickets. Make sure you know:

1. Your Visa Type, Period of Validity (Start to Expiration, the info you need is on the the Small Orange Sticker they put in your Visa Section in your passport.)
2. Your Itinerary/Schedule: When you're planning on leaving and coming back, and which places you're planning on taking off from and re-entering. (Even though it says "Airport" in English, if you're coming by ferry [like Joel and I] then just write which port you're coming in on.)
3. Passport Information: Number, Period of Validity, etc.

Paying for Processing: Stamp Buying at Lawsons (I know I thought it was weird too)

You usually don't pay the counter, but have to buy a stamp the shows proof that you paid the government. This is needed for the Certificate for Payment (手数料納付書-てすうりょうのうふしょ-Tesuuryou Noufushou). You go across the hall to a Lawson's Convience Store and there's a small window that says Revenue Stamp (収入印紙-しゅうにゅういんし-Shuunyuu Inshi) to the immediate left and a small counter in the wall. There you ask for the stamp equal to which re-entry permit you're applying for. (If you only need a Single Re-Entry then ask for the ¥3,000 (Sanzen-en no Inshi), or for Multiple Entry ¥6,000 (Rokusen-en no Inshi))

Now just to wait and submit what you have.

By now you should have the following done:

1. Have a Counter Processing Number
2. Completed the Re-Entry Permit Applciation (Filled out)
3. Completed the Certificate of Payment (Filled out with Stamp)

As soon as you got all this, all you do is wait for your number to be called to submit, and before you know it....

Re-Entry Permission SUCCESS!! Whoot.

If there's anything wrong with this guide, let me know in the comments and I'll update accordingly. I just figured that some people are a bit shy, and I found a few things a bit confusing, but hopefully it comes in handy to all.

The Adventurists Mongol Rally 2008 starts in just 7 days! I'm glad that Joel and I got our Re-Entry Permits in Japan under our Work Visas. Now to scramble for our Russian Visas. (Joel's Invitation came yesterday, Mine should hopefully be coming on Monday).

Thanks to Japan Car Exports Limited for helping me with the pictures.

So have you ever heard of those foreigners who buy cell phone contracts and skip out of the country without paying them? No? That's weird because I hear it happens all the time. Constantly. Japan's phones are just so fucking amazing that people come to Japan specifically to buy phones and then skip the country. In fact, you'd be surprised to learn that most foreigners are also criminals and/or terrorists.

What makes all this even worse is that the iPhone is only available in Japan! It's such an awesome phone that anyone who wants one must come to Japan to buy one. That's why there are so many foreign criminals paying thousands of dollars for a flight over here just to sign up for a phone they don't plan on paying for.

Whew. Enough sarcasm.

But yeah, SoftBank is a shitty company that treated me like a criminal and I'm not happy. This is the story I posted on iPhone in Japan:

I got my iPhone today and honestly, it was a pain in the ass.

I went down to the store about an hour after they started selling them, since I only had a half-day off work and started the setup then. About 30 minutes later, after working out my new phone number, getting the contract details and everything else, they told me to go home and come back before 8PM to pick it up since the "foreign registration checking system" was "crowded" today.

About an hour later, I get a call saying that there was a problem with my visa and they told me that I'd have to pay 80,000 yen in full if I wanted to get the phone. (This is a visa with 25 months left on it.) I asked them what the problem was and they said they didn't know. The head office just called and told them that I'd have to pay the full amount if I wanted to walk away with the phone today. So I went back (without my passport and whatall, since I like to keep that in a safe place at home) and realized that what I should have inferred from the "problem" was that we'd have to start everything all over again from square one.

So I went *back* home and got my passport and whatnot, went to the bank, got my wad and then went and sat down for another 45 minutes where I coached them on how to utilize the iPhone keyboard to type in web addresses to help me (haha) change my email address. After that, I had to choose a new number (yep, the other new number I had chosen was now locked out, lawl) and new details, of which I'm not even sure anymore. After that, they told me to confirm I lived in Gunma-ken??? They claimed my passport said I lived in Gunma-ken (even though we could find no mention of a Japanese address anywhere on my passport or visas, whatever) and when they couldn't really figure out how to read my foreign card (yes, it's in Japanese, I don't know what sort of brain rot was spreading at the SB store today) I just gave them my Japanese license and from there things went