Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong

November 30, 2006 by randomguru · 3 Comments 

wintersongI picked up this CD for my wife at Borders last night, and I confess I’ve been listening to it non-stop ever since.

This is a beautiful, yet genuinely sad, melancholy collection of songs.

Sarah McLachlan’s voice is just as beautiful as ever, but there is a certain subtlety in her voice and the overall music that just really touches the heart and soul, but that’s expected from such an amazingly talented singer/songwriter.

Perhaps it is music for the depressed, yet gorgeous and wonderful in execution. The whole album is touching and understated. Sarah’s rendition of “Christmas Time is Here” (the last song on the album) alone is worth the price of admission into her ethereal, yet melancholic winter world:

. . . .

Christmas time is here
happiness and cheer

fun for all
that children call
their favorite time of year

Snowflakes in the air
carols everywhere

olden times
and ancient rhymes
and love and dreams to share

sleighbells in the air
beauty everywhere

yuletide by the fireside
and joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
happiness and cheer

oh, that we
could always see
such spirit through the year…

. . . .

Definitely music I recommend for the holiday season….

Get ready for the mad rush and excitement of the holiday season, everyone!

I hope everyone has a good December.

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An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

November 25, 2006 by randomguru · 7 Comments 

Growing Evidence

There seems to be overwhelming evidence that CO2 and greenhouse gases are impacting the Earth on a global level, and it’s not a cyclical event, like the skeptics are claiming. Nor is it a total hoax (the hoax claim states that our industrialized way of life has no affect on our environment at all) that is made up by “greenies”, or environmentalists.

Affecting The Planet

As a matter of fact, environmentalists came to be because there have been very apparent observations that our way of life is affecting the planet… like pollution (just try to see downtown L.A. on a very smoggy day, for instance), acid rain, dramatic climate changes, a significant increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes and tornadoes. The stats are already far higher than those in the past 100,000 years or so. Pretty scary stuff to ponder.

You can calculate your global footprint to find out how much of an impact you are having on the planet. I’ve been trying to reduce my driving time and we bought a smaller car to save gas and reduce emissions. My global footprint was 16 (I think being a vegan really helped my score) and the average American global footprint is 24. The overall average global footprint is 4, so most Americans need to do more to reduce their global footprint.

Is Global Warming Fact or Fiction?

Sure, it’s convenient to say that global warming is the biggest hoax, but what if it really is true? Shouldn’t we always be concerned for our environment? The de-forestations and pollutants being launhed into the air? Carcinogens in our environment? The Industrial Revolution began a little over 100 years ago, and one must at least wonder if our continued Industrialization is having an impact on our planet? At least the growing evidence is beginning to be acknowledged by corporations.

Stifling A Legitimate Cause

It’s important to note just who are the people claiming that Global Warming is a hoax, when logically, it is a likely probability. Could these people be connected to the automotive industry? Or the oil companies? Why would these people be quick to right off the possibility of Global Warming?

The current Bush administration has been doing all it can to stifle growing evidence on global warming. Why? I’ll just hint to the connection between the current administration and the oil and energy corporations.

Just something to think about…

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the “C” word…

November 24, 2006 by randomguru · Leave a Comment 

My wife’s beloved Auntie has cancer. Last Friday she complained about excessive bleeding while she was going to the bathroom, and we took her right away to the Emergency Ward. Doctors said she lost a lot of blood (she was pale looking) and they found a softball-sized mass in her uterus.

On Monday, she had surgery to remove the mass… and she had a hysterectomy. The mass was determined to be cancerous…

My wife had been staying with her every single day since she was admitted. Her oldest sister came from Santa Barbara to help out, on two separate trips. Her younger sister works at the same hospital and has tried to visit as much as possible.

I found myself going to the hospital every day, bringing food, clothes, etc for my wife. Her Auntie is deaf and doesn’t understand English, so a close relative has to be with her who can be a translator for the nurses and doctors.

It’s been one rollercoaster of an emotional ride. Everyone’s exhausted. We’re discovering that the medical bills will be enormous. Auntie is 73, and we are worried how she’s going to handle the impending chemotherapy or radiation treatments she’ll have to endure.

I just got back from the hospital a few minutes ago. And I brought a DVD and my laptop so that my wife can watch a movie. She’s “climbing the walls” having to be at the hospital, so I try to visit often to keep my wife and Auntie company.

Thanksgiving was a disaster, basically. But, we forced ourselves to have one. My sis-in-law from Santa Barbara brought all the food, the turkey and ham.

It’s just ironic in trying to be thankful this Thanksgiving holiday, when something so tragic happens to the family, to a close family member who’s been a part of our lives here for decades.

But in my mind, I remain ever hopeful. I’m finding it very hard right now. But, what else can I do? But remain ever hopeful…

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aww shucks! i’m a “C” list blogger

November 19, 2006 by randomguru · 4 Comments 

C-List Blogger

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*sigh*

November 18, 2006 by randomguru · Leave a Comment 

I’ve been going through some really bad times lately…

November just doesn’t seem to be my favorite month.

Here’s what’s been happening:

1. As many of you know, I was sick recently with a bad case of “stomach flu” and although I believe I’m almost 100% back to normal, this cloud of negativity that’s been hanging around me has kept me from fully recovering.

2. And just recently, Rice Bowl Journals has suffered some major setbacks, ironically at a time when the site is a finalist at The 9th Philippine Web Awards. The discussion board is broken, and many parts of the site had been down. I haven’t contacted the webhost but I’ve assumed they upgraded PHP/MySQL and some of the code crashed the site.

3. Anyways, I DID finally get my laptop back! After more than two weeks, yesterday I checked and it was ready to be picked up. Over $400 worth of repairs and I’m glad I purchased the extended warranty plan for a change. And they backed up my hard drive but when I got the computer back all the files and folders were there but out of place. I guess it was because they had to replace the RAM, replaced the DVD/CD RW unit, and replace the hard drive and re-install Windows! Well, just glad to finally get the computer back because all my working files were in there.

4. Yesterday, my sister-in-law and I had to take her aunt to the emergency ward. She’s 73 and lately she’s been really feeling sick, and it looks like she’s going to need some surgery today. My sister-in-law and my wife were at the hospital for most of last night. And early this morning I dropped off my wife at the hospital again so she can be with her aunt. It’s looking pretty serious. I pray she can get through this. Please send some prayers our way if you can.

5. And, I’ve been out of work the entire month of November, so it’s been financially difficult lately, but on the bright side of things, I’m taking advantage by focusing more on teaching and practicing on piano and drums. Plus, I need the time to just try and stay healthy and recharge the batteries, so to speak.

*sigh*

Like the first Noble Truth says, “Life is suffering”, I’ve definitely been feeling that lately… but I know it’s important to be strong and focused throughout adversity.

And despite all that’s been happening, I’ve been keeping my chin up…

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major problems at RBJ

November 17, 2006 by randomguru · 3 Comments 

The love we desire is already within us.
—-anonymous

My apologies for all the problems. The discussion board is down, and many parts of RBJ aren’t working properly, and as a few have suspected, this was due to our webhost upgrading to new version of PHP/MySQL.

Once again, my apologies for the problems.

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