New Journey Vocalist Comes From The Zoo

This guy's unbelievable! I'm a fan of Steve Perry's high pitches, but finding a Pinoy out there to match his vocals was just stupefying. Listen closely to the clip around 4:20...



I have no idea where he gets his wind... There's some unwelcome feelings from some hard-core Journey fans in the US (issues on maintaining the image of "an American band", his shortness and accent), but you just can't ignore this talent.

Here's the news from Inquirer.net: Filipino rocker hits global stage

Speaking of Filipino talent, a 15-year old made waves in the Ellen Degeneres show last month. She got two standing ovations, nothing serious.

If these didn't get you goosebumps, get your ears checked!

All the best, Arnel and Charice!

Paris, A Simpler Life

Paris Hilton's "A Simpler Life" reality TV might turn out closer to becoming a reality after all. Her grandfather, Barron Hilton, pledged to donate a big chunk of his wealth to charity. Given Paris' high profile misadventures, I think any granddad would've done the same.

Paris Loses Out; Hilton Fortune Pledged to Charity

U.S. hotel heiress Paris Hilton's potential inheritance dramatically diminished after her grandfather Barron Hilton announced plans on Wednesday to donate 97 percent of his $2.3 billion fortune to charity.

That wealth includes $1.2 billion Barron Hilton stands to earn from both the recent sale of Hilton Hotels -- started by his father Conrad in 1919 when he bought a small hotel in Cisco, Texas -- and pending sale of the world's biggest casino company, Harrah's Entertainment.

That money will be placed in a charitable trust that will eventually benefit the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, raising its total value to about $4.5 billion, the foundation said in a statement.

Barron Hilton, chairman of the foundation, intends "to contribute 97 percent of his entire net worth, estimated today at $2.3 billion, including the created trusts, at whatever value it is at the time of his passing," the foundation said.

Ooh... that's hot!

Too Old For Christmas

Don't you have that yearly feeling that, when Christmas season comes around, you don't get excited about the holidays anymore than when you were younger? Does it have something to do with age? Or maybe times are getting tougher? Or do we get too busy with our careers we don't have time to slow down and feel the holidays anymore?

After all, what's an adult to look forward to when there are no more toys being opened on Christmas eve, no more going from street to street caroling for small bills and change into our pockets, no more "Mamamasko po" and Santa Clauses dressed like ninongs and ninangs, lolos and lolas, titos and titas, no more being taken out by parents for small outings and carnival rides...

Boring... the price of being an adult. But, hey, if you're feeling that way, then you must be an adult.

And you might just be onto the biggest reality check of your life... That is: Christmas is for kids!

Yep, no need to worry then. It's your turn to wear Santa's hat and make the kids around you feel the season of giving. Your turn to give and share, and make it your business that they have fun throughout the season. Make your kids, nephews and nieces feel special. 'Cause you know, one day too, that they'll be missing that feeling the same way we adults do.

Spread love and happiness... Have a wonderful Christmas, folks!

Get-Rich Formula

Here's another nice article about compounding:

The World's Greatest Get-Rich Formula
By Brian D. Pacampara December 5, 2007

You should be highly skeptical of any and all get-rich schemes ... except for the super-simple formula I'm going to show you below. Because this one really works.

It works so well that it's been used by the world's billionaires -- from moguls of yesteryear such as Rockefeller and Ford to today's tycoons Carlos Slim and Warren Buffett.

Though it's a little more "mathematical" than my previous blog about compounding, it drives the same point: that the factor of time is very important. You have to start now, because time waits for no one.