Pounding The Keyboard

Sex sells. Romance sells. These are two facts that no one can dispute. But what do you get if you join these two? The answer is Rush, a best-selling erotic, sex-filled (whew!) romance novel written by Maya Banks. Another fact, August is the month when the Philippines celebrates Buwan Ng Wika (a month-long celebration of the Filipino Language). And what do you get if you mix Rush and Buwan Ng Wika? The answer is Rush (The Filipino Edition). Lol. Anything to plug a product. But yes, there is a Tagalog version of Rush and it is now available at Precious Pages Bookstore   and other bookstores. Rush , which is written in the tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey, is part of the Breathless Trilogy (which includes Fever and Burn ). Incidentally, Fever and Burn also have their own upcoming Filipino editions. A FRIENDLY REMINDER: Rush (the original version and its Filipino version) is strictly for adults only.

I logged on to Facebook this morning and this was on the top of my newsfeed: (Former Pink Floyd guitarist) David Gilmour’s cover of Beatles’ Here, There And Everywhere —and it immediately made my day. Here, There And Everywhere is one my favorite Beatles’ song and, IMHO, the greatest love song of all time. The melody and the lyrics—both achingly sweet—perfectly complement each other. And I used to say that, since Paul had sung it impeccably, covering it will be a sacrilege. Unless, of course, it will be David who will do the cover. To lead a better life I need my love to be here Here, making each day of the year Changing my life with a wave of her hand Nobody can deny that there's something there There, running my hands through her hair Both of us thinking how good it can be Someone is speaking, but she doesn't know he's there I want her everywhere And if she's beside me I know I need never care But to love her is to need her Everyw

Cheeks that beg for kisses A nose that cries out for pinches Skin as delicate as butterfly wings Look, bits of clouds on your knees A feather stuck in your elbow And why are you holding a halo? Where have you been? Oh, don’t answer, your tongue’s still in the works But we know where you’ve been.

        As if a retort to David Gilmour’s new album, Roger Waters reissued his 1992 opus, Amused To Death , which has a new cover and was remastered) last July. Widely acknowledged as the best solo output of a Pink Floyd member. Amused To Death, a concept album on how television and other forms of technology are making people stupid and less humane, can be described in one word— genius .         Roger is a certified genius (well, others call him and David gods). Thankfully, he continues to write songs like he's still in Pink Floyd.         Amused To Death boasts of impeccable lyrics, Roger’s emotive voice and fantastic guitars from Jeff Beck (listen to the glorious guitars of What God Wants Part 3 and weep).         Now, imagine if the whole of Pink Floyd performed on this album...

             So there I was, inside a mall drug store, standing in front of a rack that’s stacked with razors, shower gels, deodorants, condoms and what-have-you. My mission there was to buy a razor. I haven’t shaved for weeks, I was aiming for a full beard but all I was getting was an unsightly mustache and a long and unruly goatee, so they had to go—for a while.        I was about to pick one when two young men, both scrubbed and neat-looking, stood beside me, one looked fifteen and the other one eighteen, both still bereft of facial hairs so they’re most likely weren’t looking for razors.   What they were looking for were condoms, I learned. They gazed at the condoms like they were keys to heaven, or protector to their keys to heaven. Colorful, attractive, dazzling condoms, some flavored, others had scents, and some were dotted. Yes, dotted. And do you know that you can buy   glow-in-the-dark condoms and whiskey-flavored ones? Few years from now, and they’ll be inventi