Alright, so I was at the St. Louis Cardinals game last night and I heard the DFA remix of "Paper Planes" that Mike had posted some time ago. Check out the original post "BEST PAPER PLANES REMIX BY FAR" that miracleGro posted a while ago and look at the comments... Well, let me save you the trouble:

Damon:
I don’t know who the hell you are, but I work in the sports industry and have been looking for a great remix of this song for the stadium. You just made my week! THANKS!

When I got home from the game I checked his email and as it turns out, Damon is the director of stadium music for the St. Louis Cardinals! Amazing?! Yep, amazing. Actually its more crazy than anything, what are the chances, you know?

M.I.A. - Paper Planes (DFA Remix)

Beats™

"All My Friends"

FOR RENEWAL MINOR AND ADULT REQUIREMENTS:

1. OLD PASSPORT 
2. 3 PASSPORT SIZED PICTURES W/ROYAL BLUE BACKGROUND WEARING DARK COLORED POLO/BLOUSE
3. PROPERLY ACCOMPLISHED APPLICATION FORM
4. IF 18YRS OLD & BELOW, SUBMIT PHOTOCOPY OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND ORIG. PASSPORT OF MOTHER (TO BE SIGNED AND THUMBMARKED BY MOTHER ON THE APPLICATION FORM AND UNDERTAKING)
   PROCESSING FEE:  PHP 1, 500.00 
   PROCESSING TIME:  12 WORKING DAYS
   

FOR NEW PASSPORT (ADULT) REQUIREMENTS:

1. AUTHENTICATED BIRTH CERTIFICATE, IF LATE REGISTRATION SUBMIT 2 OLD DOCUMENTS (EG. BAPTISMAL WITH DRY SEAL, FORM 137, VOTER'S AFFIDAVIT)
2. IF MARRIED WOMAN, AUTHENTICATED MARRIAGE CONTRACT
3. 3 PASSPORT SIZED PICTURES W/ROYAL BLUE BACKGROUND WEARING DARK COLORED POLO/BLOUSE
4. ORIGINAL I.D. (COMPANY, SSS, VOTER'S, DRIVER'S)
5. FILLED UP APPLICATION FORM WITH SIGNATURE IN UNDERTAKING (2ND PAGE OF APPLICATION FORM). PLS. DON'T SIGN AND DON'T AFFIX THUMBMARK ON GREEN APPLICATION FORM

FOR NEW PASSPORT/MINOR BELOW 18 YEARS OLD

1. AUTHENTICATED BIRTH CERTIFICATE
2. AUTHENTICATED MARRIAGE CONTRACT OF PARENTS IF MARRIED. IF NOT PARENTS ARE NOT MARRIED, AFFIDAVIT OF ILLEGITIMACY
3. 3 COPIES PASSSPORT SIZED PICTURE W/ROYAL BLUE BACKGROUND WEARING DARK COLORED POLO/BLOUSE
4. DULY FILLED UP APPLICATION FORM, IF 8YRS OLD & ABOVE DON'T SIGN AND DON'T AFFIX THUMBMARK. BUT IF 7 YRS & BELOW, FORM SHOULD BE SIGNED AND THUMBMARKED BY MOTHER
5. ORIGINAL VALID  PASSPORT OF MOTHER
6. PHOTOCOPY OF SCHOOL I.D. IF STUDENT
7. IF TRAVELLING WITHOUT PARENTS NEED DSWD CLEARANCE

AND ORIGINAL PASSPORT OF TRAVELLING COMPANION NOTE:

1. FOR MINORS BELOW 8 YRS OLD NEW AND RENEWAL,  MOTHER IS FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT DFA
2. FOR 8-17 YRS OLD NEW AND  RENEWAL, APPLICANT AND MOTHER ARE FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT DFA
3. FOR 18-64 YRS OLD NEW AND RENEWAL,  PERSONAL APPEARANCE
   IS A MUST.  ONLY 65 YEARS OLD & ABOVE ARE EXEMPTED FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE
   PROCESSING FEE:   PHP 1, 500.00
   PROCESSING TIME:  12 WORKING DAYS AFTER PERSONAL APPEARANCE

kainis naman at kahit november 2011 pa expiration ng passport ko kelangan magpalit ng kulay brown passport kasi high tech na yung kulay brown may bar code na ito na ginagamit ng ibat-ibang bansa para malaman kung tunay na ikaw ang taong nasa passport.. comment ko lang sa taas ng processing fee sana hinabahaan na nila ang expiration kahit 7 years man lang or 10 years para di sayang yung binayad at tsaka less pila at time sa pag-aasikaso... mas malupit pati picture may guidelines sila check nyo dito

I know Holy Ghost has already had their name out there for awhile, but I'm not going to lie, they're one of my favorite groups to come in the last year or so. Since they produce a sound that has a special place in my heart, it would only be right for me to post about them.

I've always been inspired by the disco era and Holy Ghost definitely takes elements from the genre and add their own unique style. They add enough danceable melodies and emotion it can make anyone want to cry on the dance floor.

Sounds Like Color exclusive question:
What sub-genre would best describe Holy Ghost!?

a) Nu-Disco?
b) Nü-Disco?
c) Neu-Disco?

Holy Ghost! - Hold On

Nick and Alex of Holy Ghost!

Holy Ghost! Remixes:

Panthers - Goblin City (Holy Ghost! Disco Dub)

Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire (Holy Ghost! Remix)

Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire (Holy Ghost! Instrumental)

Moby - I Love To Move In Here (Holy Ghost! Remix)

Only Fools And Horses - Spectacle Wins (Holy Ghost! Remix)

Here is a clip of the band working in the studio on their single "Hold On". Oh what? Who is that sitting in the opening shot? Oh that's only the chubbiest man in dance music, DFA label co-owner and Mr. LCD himself, James Murphy helping with production. If anyone can lead the Nü-Disco revolution it'd be J. Murphy.

To see more videos from Holy Ghost's personal YouTube page, click here.

The tactics of GWB in the 2004 election -- to isolate and confine protestors and demonstrators to an area off-site and away from the MSM coverage, is another troubling tactic.  Obama and Dean have learned their Rovian tactical lessons well and have incorporated the Rove playbook in this election -- a fact which concerns and troubles many loyal, life-long Democrats.  And which, amusingly, does not reflect the "new kind of politics" that Americans assume Obama is referring to in his eloquent, flowery speeches when they sit and listen to him pontificate on the corruption of Washington, scoffing at experience as "Washington trying to boil all the hope out of him."

Well, I must admit that I had the audacity to hope for something more than an empty suit with a big, however eloquent, mouthpiece.

I am a proud PUMA Democrat and supporter of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. I joined PUMA right after the RBC meeting, when it became evident that the "fix" was in and the party was not going to play fair. PUMAs are loyal, “real” Democrats that espouse traditional Democratic Party values and don’t agree with what is going on in their party right now. Some will vote for McCain (I won’t). Some may vote for Obama. Some will vote for Nader or another 3rd party candidate, and some will only vote for down-ticket Dems. I will definitely vote for down-ticket Dems. I am and will always be a Democrat.

This Gestapo-like intimidation of delegates and disrespect to political opponents is not where it ends. The “troll patrol” mission of search and destroy, trying to find out where DNC PartyBuilder bloggers blog on other sites and who they are reveals how deep the insecurity is in the Obama camp.

You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police. Yet in their hearts there is unspoken - unspeakable! - fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts! Words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home, all the more powerful because they are forbidden. These terrify them. A little mouse - a little tiny mouse! -of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic. — Winston Churchill

That’s why Obama failed the “3 a.m.” test when Putin invading Georgia — his fear of making a decision, a commitment. Ted Kennedy once told Obama he needed to run for president before he had a [voting] record to run against. He took that advice to heart, and consequently has avoided making controversial votes ever since. He fears that he might have to run with something besides a "present" vote in the IL State Senate or his complete absence for the vote on Iran in the U.S. Senate -- the very kind of vote he so castigated Hillary for on Iraq. His votes on abortion in the IL State Senate have come back to haunt him, and watching him dance around the issue with his swift tongue has been amusing, in some respects, but disheartening in others. His hubris and inexperience and lack of judgment on substantial issues became very evident. And nothing his propaganda machine did or could conceivably do could create a convincing illusion that he was more than an inexperienced man with a tepid, impotent, ineffective response to a real, serious national security threat.

Obama’s solution? Choose a man who had 36 years in Washington ("a new kind of politics" and "change" the way Washington does business?) and who voted FOR the Iraq resolution, just like Hillary.

Obama's response to critics who supported Hillary? To give Hillary the virtual finger by releasing his VP choice text message at 3 a.m. — the ultimate in immature, sophomoric insults to a lady who has done nothing but try her best to help him.

The disdain in his and his campaign's remarks toward Hillary and the disparaging comments toward her supporters has done nothing to unify the party, it has divided it. And it is Obama that has done this (or his campaign and supporters on his behalf).

Censors tend to do what only psychotics do: they confuse reality with illusion. — David Cronenberg

The DNC PartyBuilder (PB) blog apparently has an unpublished list of accepted sources and banned sources -- no one I know can tell you where the list is, but it must exist, because the Fist-bump Gang has referred to it numerous times. Who is the Fist-bump Gang? A small group of obsessive Obamabots that are dedicated to rooting out all dissenters and those who are not enthusiastically drinking the "Yes we can!" Kool-aid.

If you publish or excerpt from one of the banned sources that shall remain nameless to all but the Fist-bump Gang, you yourself are labeled a troll, a Republican, an Operation Chaos operative or worse, and a campaign against you ensues. Eventually, you are banned from the DNC PartyBuilder site. No dissent is allowed. My IP address or e-mail address was permanently banned (I cannot get approval to blog or write comments with a different Yahoo address, etc.) for publishing an article from the LA Times about Chris Matthews misogynist behavior this election season. If you read their comments about those of us who have been banned, you would think we had been filthy-mouthed, attacking, smearing "trolls" who had nothing substantive to say. The reality is that they are describing themselves, not us.

Women’s rights was and is a very unpopular issue with Obama supporters, particularly the Fist-bump Gang, at the PB blog. Reminds them too much of the primary season and Hillary’s ability to surmount incredible odds in the mainstream media (MSM). In fact, the Obamabots were outraged and fought mightily against having women’s rights as a topic of the Friday Night Forum on PB, even after we had gay rights and civil rights. This went on for about a month. Apparently women don’t warrant the same consideration. And that’s a good part of the problem overall in the Obama/Dean/DFA-controlled DNC, actually.

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him. — John Morley

And what these “Yes we can!” fist-bumping Kool-aid drinkers do accomplish in trying to shout down or shut our dissenters is to create an enemy where none may have existed in the first place. That is absolutely true of me. Resorting to calling me and other Hillary supporters a “bitter” whiner or harridan because my candidate lost an unfair election is based on their inability to see the real, substantive issue here. Where is our party going? And what happened to the core values that our party used to represent? Instead of fighting disenfranchisement, we use it as an election tactic. Instead of being the voice of the people, we are substituting delegates who support the candidate of our choice instead of the candidate the people voted for.

Censors tend to do what only psychotics do: they confuse reality with illusion. — David Cronenberg

The faulty assumption is that the Obama propagandists can cover up the truth with their lies if they just repeat it loud enough and long enough -- a tactic GWB and Rove have mastered. They have illusions of gradeur and the self-delusions of a false narrative. Like GWB, they are convinced that the problem is not that they are wrong — it’s not the substance of the message itself, but that they are not properly “controlling” it. It’s a PR problem, not a truth or logic problem. And that is the problem.

And an even bigger problem is that the Obama campaign and the DNC are using the MSM as their personal mouthpiece with the cooperation of the MSM. Rather than aggressively and skeptically questioning the propaganda, the MSM is broadcasting their propaganda for them, unquestioning and without any vetting or sourcing. Watching Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann anchoring at the convention site for MSNBC, I thought I was watching a DNC-sponsored infomercial piece -- certainly not the days of Walter Cronkite or Huntley-Brinkley, much less Edward R. Murrow, who Olbermann has arrogantly stolen his sign-off from. This is what we get for letting corporations control our news media -- the best marketing tool money can buy. News by focus groups.

Instead of Obama, his campaign and his supporters making efforts to build relationships with disaffected Dems (primarily Hillary supporters), these guys are trying to alienate them further. This has become the SOP on the DNC PB blog. And it is creating further division, not less.

I remember as a business manager, once sitting in a PR seminar where the instructor made the comment that, when your customer has a bad experience with any of your employees, they aren't mad at that particular employee, they're mad at the whole company. This is the impact that these "troll patroling" Fist-bump gang-bangers are having on Obama's candidacy.

I really tried to get on board the "Yes we can!" Kool-aid train after Hillary conceded. I donated to Obama (not much). I created a profile on his website. I posted a few blogs. But I was constantly attacked by the Fist-bump Gang on the DNC site, along with other Hillary supporters (and that was before they realized I had joined PUMA). For those of you reading this comment who have participated in these type of search and destroy missions, there is a quote that is worth thinking about:

One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you. — Dennis A. Peer

And you Fist-bump Gang-bangers -- you DNC troll patrolers -- should ask yourselves how many votes have you LOST for Obama today or up until now. It may be more than you realize. I know of dozens of people who have been banned or attacked mercislessly by the Fist-bump Gang who would most likely have voted for Obama had it not been for the nasty, divisive tactics of his supporters. At first, we did not blame Obama, but when it continued and worsened upon Obama’s moderator taking over the blog, it became clear it was sanctioned by Obama and an accepted SOP for his campaign. The real concern is will this be the way he governs as well?

If you don’t know what I am talking about, please check out my WordPress blog site (http://lauraschneider.wordpress.com/ ) or the new political blog site that is open to all parties and all candidates’ supporters (http://www.2008election-forum.com). Suffice it to say that the caliber of the Obama supporters I have encountered on the DNC PB blog does not speak well for Obama.

Interestingly enough, these same "troll patrollers" who are so obsessed with cleansing the blog of less enthusiastic Dems are the ones who also admit to patrolling Republican sites and creating dissent and chaos there. So, they are guilty of the very thing on other sites that they accuse us of on the DNC site. It has been my experience that people who are not trusting are usually not trustworthy. Why? Because they expect you to do to them what they would do to you under the same circumstances. They see themselves in the mirror of the eyes of others.

Obama’s supporters have convinced me that he is not capable of leading this country. Why? If he intends the intimidation and censorship and obsession with “controlling the message” to the point where other ideas cannot be entertained in our party, then he is too power-crazed and corrupt to lead our country. If he is eithe runaware or too impotent to influence his supporters to embrace his message of a “new kind of politics” in reality, not just in hot air, then he is too weak to lead our country. Either way, it does not bode well for Obama, or for us as Democrats.

Either way, he fails the basic test of a leader:

The first responsibility of a leader is to DEFINE REALITY [not obscure it]. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. — Max De Pree

Obama is committed to obscuring reality, not clearly defining it. What is he hiding? His hubris and unabridged lust for power. He will compromise any principle, do anything to get where he wants to go. If that means throwing his grandmother, his minister and our 4th amendment rights under the bus, so be it. Environment? Not a problem, uncer the bus it goes if the polls indicate it will get him a vote or two.

And what has Hillary done? Everything she can to try to unify the party and sell Obama to us. But that is Obama’s job. And Hillary, I’m afraid has already realized that Dean, through his DFA, has already coronated Obama in 2007, when the plans to move the DNC to Chicago were made. She knows, but she is trying to keep the party’s shit together until she can organize a coalition to take our party back. She won’t say so publicly, but she and Bill are fully aware of the travesty that has been done to our party.

What we have to do… is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities. — Hillary Clinton

This is the kind of leader we need for our party. One that celebrates diversity and encourages us to use our voices, not one that does everything he can to silence us and disenfranchise us.

And finally:

Censorship reflects society’s [here, Obama's] lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime. ~Potter Stewart

Is this where we want to take our party and our country? Sorry, I'm not riding this Kool-aid train....

DFA's new signing, Yacht:

1. Franz Ferdinand - Lucid Dreams
2. Oasis - Shock of the Lightning
3. Digitalism - Pogo (CSS Remix)
4. N.E.R.D. - She Wants To Move (DFA Remix)
5. Bombay Bicycle Club - The Hill
6. Liars - It Fit When I Was A Kid (Crystal Castles Remix)
7. Metronomy - A Thing For Me (Breakbot's B-LIVE Miami Mix)
8. Bombay Bicycle Club - Evening/Morning
9. Peter, Bjorn And John - Inland empire
10. Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - Victoria's Swimming Pool

    

Pourquoi les écoutés?

1. D'abord, mettons les choses au claire, cette version n'est pas différente de toute celle que vous pouvez entendre sur pratiquement TOUS les blogs, alors vous jetez pas dessus, ça sert à rien. Pourquoi je la poste? Car je suis une fan et que la fan moyenne ne peux pas laisser passer ça. Pour la petite histoire ce titre fait partie de la bande original de Madden 09, un jeux quelconque à mon gout; c'est pourquoi il est sortit prématurément sur le web.Il a d'abord apparu sous la simple forme de paroles. Ensuite, l'album est prévu pour Noël voire début 2009, voire plus tard s'ils veulent jouer avec nos nerfs. Mr Kapranos aurait même parlé d'un concert pour décembre....mais ce n'est qu'une rumeur.Ensuite, si vous voulez écoutez des nouvelles aux sons misérables c'est ici.(mais je l'ai déjà dis). Bref, ce nouveau titre des FF est ma foi, plutôt sympa. On y retrouve tout ce que l'on connaissait déjà :Riffs de guitares envoutant+voix d'Alex Kapranos "grrrrr"+sens inné aux tubes=Franz Ferdinand. Le problème c'est que voilà au bout du 3eme album on se dit qu'il faudrait peut-être recycler la machine. Et puis merde finalement non; et définitivement NON!Les Franz Ferdinand sont excellents et le resterons. Et puis, on peut tout de même remarqué une nette évolution entre Franz Ferdinand et You Could Have It So Much Better, le second et bien plus travailler...alors une question se posent : Sur quels morceaux va-t-il avoir ce fameux piano russe????
2. Il y a exactement trois titres de Dig Out Your Soul d'Oasis qui sont apparus sur le net, plus un remix des Chemical Brothers. Mais pour tout vous dire la meilleure reste Shock of the Lightning. Alors, c'est vrai que Oasis, c'est toujours la même chose, c'est presque soulant, mais je sais pas rien que d'entendre la voix de canard de Liam, ça me redonne le sourire, alors que voulez-vous que je fasse...Une question : Suis-je la seule à trouver la pochette de leur nouvelle album assez bizarre?
3. J'ai eu un peu de mal avec se remix au début ; j'ai tellement aimé l'original que c'est dur de passer à autre chose d'assez différent, en fait. Les CSS fais passé de l'électro pure à un rock électrisé, plus jeune, plus frais, ce morceau est pour vous.
4. Un petit hommage à N.E.R.D. que je vais voir en concert à la fête de l'huma, juste par curiosité. L'original est culte et le remix doit le devenir. Toi, amateurs de bonne musique, c'est à toi que reviens la tache de faire circuler ce petit bijoux. Attention, c'est long comme même.
5. Je n'ai jamais su pourquoi on avait oublié aussi vite les auteurs du merveilleux "Sixteen". j'ai écouté leur deux EP et j'ai un peu compris ; c'est pas intéressant. c'est vrai, c'est assez chiant dans l'ensemble. Mais mince! The Hill est un bijoux de style tubesque à la Sixteen et cette voix, si mal exploité parfois, prend toute son ampleur! J'exagère un peu en disant que c'est LE tube mais sincèrement je ne peux plus m'en lasser.
6. Je pense maintenant, être arrivé à un point où je possède tous les remix de Crystal Castles. Liars, ce n'est vraiment pas mon truc mais écouter se remix c'est donner une qualité à un chose qui en est dénué. Je ne dis pas que Liars c'est mauvais, je sais qu'il y a des fans,c'est juste que ca me passe complètement à coté. Bref, ce morceau est hypnotisant, captivant, envoutant, terrifiant, parfois rassurant et humain, parfois, machinale.
7. Depuis le temps que j'attendais un nouveau remix de Breakbot, et bien je suis ravie. En plus Metronomy, c'est une mini délectation personnelle. C'est doux, tranquil presque sensuel(surement l'effet "piano lover")..on quitte un instant l'esprit tordu des Metronomy pour une planete presque jazzy où Breakbot se prélasse...Terrible remix...terrible...
8. Et bien, j'en parlais et revois là nos chers Bombay Bicycle Club. Alors, c'est simple, c'est du bon pop/rock. C'est tres calme malré cette petite tension presque omniprésente qui nous maintiens sur nos gardes. Bref, ce n'est pas le titre du siecle mais ca mérite un gros coup d'oeil...
9. J'avoue avoir hésité avant de la poster, car je ne savais pas tres bien, si je l'aimais ou non, si elle était nulle ou non, enfin je sentais quelque chose mais impossible de déterminer quelque chose de clair. Mon état reste le même, je suis dans l'incertitude. En tout cas, plus je l'écoute, plus je l'aime, je pense que c'est bon signe. D'ailleurs, il doit y avoir un rapport avec le film de Mr Lynch, mais allez  savoir lequel...
10. Ca faisait tellement longtemps que je l'avais et que je voulais la poster, mais entierement à cause du monde..je trouve ca excellent. Enfin, la musique n'est pas mal non plus. c'est mignon, c'est plaisant. Je pensais que ça finirait bien cette playlist. :)

Gegen halb elf enterten acht Personen die Bühne und zündeten von Minute eins an ein Discofeuerwerk erster Güte; ein "Tanz-Konzert" wie es im Buche steht, das von den zwei Sängerinnen (die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten: die androgyne Kim Ann und die sexy Disco-Transe[?] Nomi) und einem nicht enden wollenden Moroder-Basslauf geprägt war. Nur einmal brach die Musik ab, doch der Versuch Butlers, seine Band vorzustellen, wurde von einem frenetisch jubelnden Kölner Publikum kaum zugelassen. Nach etwa einer Stunde (mehr gibt die Discographie noch nicht her) inklusive einer Zugabe hatte der Spaß leider schon ein Ende. Eine grandiose Live-Umsetzung von Disco, die die Studiotracks noch in den Schatten stellt, die ahnen lässt, was im New York der 70er Jahre los gewesen sein muss, und die dennoch nicht bloß retro ist. Mit Sicherheit der Konzerthöhepunkt der c/o pop und mein Highlight des Jahres bisher.

PS: am 27.08. auch noch in Hamburg zu sehen, Tipp!

A mixture between TV on the Radio, Islands, and Bonde do Role, Free Blood revolutionized New York's dying dance parties.

Made up of Madeline and John these vocalists are sure to released a very dance worthy compilation.

"Grumpy" - Free Blood (2008 DFA) Free Blood EP

Baja, with his wife Norma and daughter Maria Elizabeth, filed a motion in the Southern District Court of New York to dismiss Baoanan's complaint, invoking diplomatic immunity against criminal, civil and administrative cases under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the treaties under the United Nations Charter.

"In the interest of truth and out of delicadeza, the DFA should waive the Bajas' immunities to  ferret out the facts and arguments on the case. Ambassadors and foreign service officers accused or charged of trafficking and enslaving Filipina domestic workers should not hide behind the cloak of blanket and indiscriminate immunity," said Maza.

Maza cited Article 31 of the Vienna Convention, which provides immunity for diplomatic agents from the receiving State's criminal jurisdiction except in cases related to actions regarding any professional or commercial activity exercised by the diplomatic agent outside his official functions, among the three provisions on exemptions.

"Even under the international treaty, Baoanan's allegations of trafficking and slavery against the Bajas fall under a commercial activity that exploits the poor and vulnerable for personal profit or gain," Maza said.

The Gabriela solon also noted  a Philippine Supreme Court decision in 2000 which cautioned and ruled against the DFA when it granted full diplomatic immunity to an employee of the Asian Development Bank, an act which the Court said was a violation of the rights to due process both of the accused and the prosecution.#

1. Yesterday, word got out that the Mariners were holding out and hoping that Hank Steinbrenner would step in to fast track a Jarrod Washburn deal. Today, I'm happy to say that they were sorely mistaken. In fact, instead of dealing with Hank Steinbrenner, it seems as though Hal Steinbrenner (who I predicted would have a say) has stepped into the situation and he doesn't like what the Mariners are offering (or demanding, if you will). Here's what he thinks about the proposed Washburn deal.

"I'm the finance guy, that's what I get labeled, so putting on more payroll certainly doesn't sit well with me, but neither does trading away young talent," Steinbrenner said. "It's got to be a balance."

Basically, the Mariners are going to have to take it or leave it. So, they'll either accept a salary dump or they'll eat a substantial portion of Washburn's contract in order to receive a somewhat "decent" prospect. It's really their choice, but the Yankees aren't going to continue with this charade for much longer. The NY Post even has an inside source who labels the talks as "dead", citing Seattle's insatiable appetite for talent and salary relief. I say good riddance. Jarrod Washburn's career numbers in the second half are weak.

2. It's great news knowing that Jorge Posada will be having surgery on his shoulder sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, the Yankees and their fans must be prepared for the consequences. While the team has said that Posada will be out for 6 months after the surgery, recovering and strengthening his shoulder, the waiting time could be much longer than that. Brian Cashman actually told Tyler Kepner that the 6-month recovery period is a minimum, so that's with no presumable setbacks. This is major surgery and it could hamper Jorge's throwing well into the 2009 season, which could accelerate a transition from catcher to first baseman (where Posada's value takes a huge hit).

3. Finally, the Minnesota Twins may have an interest in the recently DFA'd LaTroy Hawkins. Wow, looking back on it, it definitely seems like Cashman should have just splurged and went with Ron Mahay. Ah, whatever, $3 million+ is like Kleenex to the Yankees.

More later...

NEW YORK – “My eyes became blurry from crying every night. It was like I did not have hope to escape or to continue to live. I thought about committing suicide because I was so depressed,” Marichu Baoanan said in between sobs, as she narrated what transpired during the winter of 2006.

After keeping her silence for more than two years, Baoanan broke her silence and spoke about the case she has filed against former United Nations Ambassador Lauro Baja, his wife Norma Baja and daughter Elizabeth Baja Facundo for violating federal laws against human trafficking. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) filed the complaint in New York federal court on behalf of Banaoan.

At a press conference Wednesday, July 9, Baoanan said she paid P250,000 to Norma Baja and her travel agency, Labaire International Travel, for her airfare to the United States, her visa, a work permit and job placement. A nursing graduate, Baoanan thought she would be working as a nurse.

Holding her tears, she said that she arrived in New York in January 2006 and was taken straight to the Upper East Side townhouse where the Bajas lived. She said that Norma Baja took her passport. She was then told that she needed to work for them so she could pay off her debt.

Since Mr. Baja was an ambassador, Baoanan said that there were always parties in the house. She claimed that she was the only domestic worker in the house so most of the time, she was the only one left awake in the house, cleaning up and washing dishes non-stop for several hours.

"The earliest I would finish my work would be at midnight. My body ached from exhaustion and I felt so devastated," she said.

"Grabe ang paghihirap ko sa kanila. Sobra. Inabuso nila ako ng husto," she added.

The 39-year-old Baoanan also described other atrocities that the Baja family allegedly committed while she worked with them for three months.

She said that she was not fed well and were only given leftovers and that she would be watched to the point that she could not swallow her food anymore.

Baoanan arrived during the middle of winter, and she had no idea how cold it was in New York and the only clothes she had were thin pairs of pants, t-shirts and slippers. She said she endured the situation even if her entire body was shivering from the cold.

She also took care of the Bajas’ grandson, Elizabeth’s son, who by then was five years old. Baoanan said that the grandson hit her with a broom, spat in her face and kicked her in the face in front of the former ambassador.

"I felt like they treated me worse than an animal. They didn’t treat me like a person," she said, adding that she was also called "stupid" and "slow".

"I served the Bajas for three months – cooked, took care of the child, cleaned the really big townhouse, did the laundry, ironed and other tasks as a domestic worker. In return, they paid me with curses, insults, disrespect and $100 from Beth. What do I call this kind of experience? Oppression. Slavery," Baoanan, a mother of three, added.

Because of what she describes as a "good samaritan," she was able to escape from the house.

"There is simply no truth to what she is claiming," Salvador Tuy, lawyer of the Bajas, told the media after the press conference. He showed photographs of Banaoan in full winter gear. "We will provide more pictures because we have taken pictures of her touring the United Nations in full boot gear in the middle of winter."

The lawyer also disputed Banaoan’s statement that the Bajas got her passport when she arrived.

"That’s simply not true. All you have to do is to go to the Philippine Consulate and you will find out the she renewed her passport. You will find out that she still has her diplomatic passport," Tuy added.

In earlier interviews in the Philippines, the former ambassador has likewise disputed Banaoan’s claims.

In an interview with DZMM, Baja said that Baoanan had a room to herself on the same floor of the Philippine consulate’s building in New York, contrary to her claim that she stayed at the basement.

"She was sleeping on the second floor, she was eating the same food," Baja also said.

He also denied allegations that Banaoan was only paid $100 for the three months that she worked with them. Baja said Banaoan received $200 a month.

The former ambassador’s wife told the Inquirer that they did not commit the allegations being thrown at them by Banaoan.

"Hindi naman kami walanghiya (We’re not shameless)," she was quoted as saying.

Mrs. Baja also denied that Baoanan was made to eat leftovers, saying they had more than enough food in the house. She also said she had given Baoanan used winter clothes and had bought her a pair of winter rubber shoes, contrary to what Banaoan claims.

"Human trafficking is far more complex than many people realize," said AALDEF staff attorney Ivy Suriyopas, who leads the organization’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative. "It can involve domestic workers that cook food for, clean the house of, and take care of the children of your next-door neighbor. Trafficking involves the severe exploitation of workers regardless of the industry of the worker or the reputation of the trafficker."

Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), individuals can sue their former traffickers and also legalize their immigration status. "T" visas are available to sex and labor trafficking survivors who have been subjected to force, fraud or coercion.

Through the DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association, a Filipino labor rights group, and AALDEF, Baoanan was able to secure a T visa and Derivative T visas for her husband and three children.

She was reunited with her family in April 2008.

"The only reason why I came here was to work and make money to support my family – for their day-to-day survival and so that they could have a good education," Baoanan said.

"What happened with Marichu Banaoan was dehumanizing and deplorable," said Ana Liza Caballes, overall coordinator of Damayan. "We hope that this news will resonate throughout the United States and the Philippines, and hopefully all over the world."

Damayan has launched the "Justice for Marichu" campaign, in an effort to end trafficking and modern-day slavery for all Filipina domestic workers.

According to their petition, they are demanding that the Arroyo administration and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs conduct a full investigation of the Baja family on charges of human trafficking, involuntary servitude, racketeering and US wage and hours violations.

The group is also supporting Baoanan’s demand for a public apology from the Bajas for violating her human dignity and subjecting her to involuntary servitude. (www.asianjournal.com)

I've been a substitute teacher for over a year now and I can say with confidence that subs are straight hustlers. I personally partake in a number of hustles as do my sub peers...we're talking artists, actors, musicians, freelance whatevers all basking in the freedom of the substitute lifestyle. And you can be sure regular teachers get their hustle on too when school gets out; I performed in a fly girls style dance duo with a high school English teacher-Dostoevksy by day, dance diva by night.

So after a year of friendly hellos and small talk on the school yard, the secret life of one teacher was revealed to me: passing by each other at lunchtime one afternoon I noticed and complimented his DFA shirt...knowing glances were exchanged, further investigation was in order. We chat later and lo & behold, he's a DJ, a good one. By day he assists a kid in need of some extra attention, by night he is DJ NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. Wow, he even teaches while partying...do your slipmats have world maps on them?

His mix BROEK'S DANCE PARTY is sweet pop dance fun, it's like the fruit roll-up in your lunchbox. A+

LISTEN!!! - BROEK'S DANCE PARTY

(tracklist)

BONUS MIX!!! - 1/2 STOLEN FROM WALTER MEEGO

(tracklist)

==========

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

Posted date: July 10, 2008

MANILA, Philippines -- The rules of the Department of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) allowing its foreign service officers to hire domestic helpers
does not go through the process required by Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration (POEA) of foreign employers, Senator
Manuel "Mar" Roxas II said Thursday.

"We cannot have a set of standards for foreign employers and none at
all for Filipino diplomats because this affects the confidence of our
own workers in the objectivity, humanity, and professionalism of our
own foreign service," he said in a statement.

Roxas' reaction stems from the case filed in New York against former
Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Lauro Baja, his wife
Norma, and his daughter Elizabeth Facundo for alleged human
trafficking, slavery, fraud, and 12 other alleged violations of US
laws.

According to the DFA, its people posted abroad are allowed to
hire "personal staff," the number of which depends on the hiring
person's rank.

In an interview with INQUIRER.net, POEA Administrator Rosalinda
Baldoz confirmed that such hiring does not go through her agency.

"We are not part of the hiring process of HSWs (household service
workers) by DFA personnel. We are not part of the contract. No OEC
(overseas employment certificate) is required, that's why we don't
have any participation," she said.

Roxas, a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments, which
confirms the promotion and assignment of ambassadors and other
personnel in foreign assignments, noted the irony that the Philippine
embassy is the "first place of refuge" of a Filipino domestic helper
abused by her foreign employer abroad.

He thus called on the DFA to adopt clear and uniform rules and
standards in the employment of Filipino maids by all government
personnel posted abroad.

"There must be a uniform contract stipulating a salary of not less
than $400 a month, with stipulated number of days off in a week, and
an assurance of adequate food and decent quarters," he proposed.

"Violations of this contract by civil servants posted abroad must be
the subject of administrative sanctions and should be submitted to
the Commission on Appointments as part of our documentary
requirements," he added.

The senator suggested that every contract of a domestic helper hired
by a Filipino diplomat, as well as attaches sent abroad like trade,
labor, and welfare attaches, must be registered with and
countersigned by the personnel office of the respective department.

"The adoption of fair and transparent procedures in the hiring of
Filipino maids by embassy personnel regardless of rank will redound
to the protection of both the diplomat and his or her kasambahay,"
Roxas said.

At the same time, he said, that the protection given to these
househelps should conform to the labor laws of the country where the
diplomat is assigned.

The senator noted that the controversy surrounding a case filed by
Marichu Suarez Baoanan, a Filipino nurse who was employed as a
domestic helper by the Bajas for three months, could have been
prevented had the DFA been more clear, assertive, and transparent
with its hiring policies in relation to domestic helpers.

Roxas said that regardless of who is telling the truth, the lesson of
the story is clear: the universal principles of decent work apply to
all.

He urged the DFA to act fast and give a timeframe for drawing up
rules on the matter, so as to assure domestic helpers of their safety.

====

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080710-
147621/DFA-rules-on-househelp-hiring-exempt-from-POEA-rules

This is a feature I wrote back in February for The Skinny, the week before Hot Chip released their third album. It all came together too late to tie in with the album release, so here it is on the eve of their T in the Park set...

Interviews with Hot Chip often begin with the writer grappling with the futile task of defining this most indefinable of bands. They will often indulge in a stream of made-up micro-genres: 'lo-fi disco', 'future-pop', 'Fisher Price funk', even. I realise I have just unwittingly perpetuated this trend, but for Hot Chip's Felix Martin, all it means is that “people haven't really been listening to the music, they're too ready to just try and sum it up in one word.” But, he hastens to add, “I don't get upset about it.”

What does concern Martin - whose role in Hot Chip is to “run the drum machines and laptops that contain the beats that drive the band forward” - is that it's likely his band's divergent sound probably lessens their impact on the charts: “We're quite confusing. And it's not particularly intentional on our behalf. It probably makes it harder for us to sell records! That's just how we are.”

Despite Martin's reservations, Hot Chip have already tasted crossover success with 'Over and Over', the eccentric groove that many declared the song of 2006. With major label backing on both sides of the Atlantic, could this quintet of late-20s, intellectual, studious record collectors by day / prolific remixers, in-demand DJs and synth rockers by night, become the most unlikely pop success of the year?

We're talking a week before the release of the album that looks set to do it, Made In The Dark. It's probably their most “confusing” record to date, but only in the sense that it takes several listens before the Pollock-esque sensory-splatter of sounds, beats and styles coalesces into their best collection of songs to date. “We never sit down and try and make an indie-pop record or a hip-hop track,” Martin explains. “We wouldn't trust ourselves to do that, it wouldn't be possible for us to do that. It's not a really considered thing the way we go about putting music together, it's on an off-the-cuff basis.”

This blind-sightedly experimental approach is exemplified in the title Made In The Dark. “It's quite an ambiguous title isn't it?” Martin ventures. “The song was written before the album came along and we just decided that the phrase was open-ended enough to not become irritating in a few years. I like it. The more I've heard it and thought about it the better I think it is.”

The embryonic form of Hot Chip began through the teenage affinity between vocalists/noisemongers Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, who met at the same London comprehensive that gave the world Four Tet and Burial. What we now know as Hot Chip was kick-started in 2000 with the additions of Owen Clarke, Al Doyle and Felix Martin into the unconventional, synth-heavy collective. After numerous self-financed EPs they released their debut long-player Coming On Strong on the indie label Moshi Moshi in 2004 to muted critical acclaim. But their evident talent soon attracted bigger fish, and they signed deals with the DFA in America and EMI in Britain. Two years on, follow-up The Warning was stronger and more ambitious, mixing an ear for the dancefloor with a real soul sensibility.

Despite their international profile, Hot Chip still favour a lo-tech approach, scouring charity shops for old percussive junk and using Goddard's bedroom for recording. With Made In The Dark they did book some studio time, but only for a handful of tracks, as Martin recalls: “It wasn't a glamourous studio with lots of posh, snobby people coming in. It was just a room in East London where we got our sound engineer to help us set up our equipment as we would when we play live and tried to capture the sound of that. The songs 'One Pure Thought', 'Out At the Pictures' and 'Hold On' were recorded in that way. A lot of the other ones were just recorded in Joe's bedroom.”

And is Joe's bedroom spacious enough to accommodate his sleeping arrangements and a multi-instrumental recording set-up? “He's got an average-sized bedroom actually,” Martin laughs. “I'm not sure how long his girlfriend's gonna put up with it. He used to have a very small bedroom that was a bit of a broom cupboard really but that was a few years ago. We've moved on since then.”

With both Made In The Dark and the single 'Ready For The Floor' hitting the UK top ten in the past month, Hot Chip certainly have moved on, continuing their mastery of the commercial/critical tightrope. Is this important to Martin and his bandmates? “The most important thing for me is that we can come to Scotland or Australia or Brazil and have a crowd of people that want to come and see us play. That's the thing that makes me happiest. It's always nice to have a nice review or be offered an award but for me it's always better to have people directly responding to the music and getting excited.”

While the band themselves may be soaking up the adulation, their employers EMI have been mired in financial crisis, culminating in 2,000 staff redundancies the week before we speak. What does Martin think of the record industry's current strife? “I think they'll have to do something, whether they just become a smaller industry that doesn't make as much money. The revenue that you make from music has changed so much, it's more focused on live music and record sales have obviously gone down. There's not as much money to be made for the record labels, but as an artist you can still make a living out of touring, but it's pretty tough for people like EMI.”

And in such rapidly changing times would Hot Chip consider following Radiohead's lead and offering a pay-what-you-choose download? “Yeah I think we would think about doing something like that but we're not particularly technically or commercially minded people so we wouldn't be able to set anything like that up ourselves. We'd need someone from outside to help us do that. We want to concentrate on making music really and not think too much about selling records.”

If touring is where the money's at, then the festival season is a lucrative time of year. Since I spoke to Martin, Hot Chip have been confirmed as one of the highlights of a stellar T in the Park line-up, which will delight those who have witnessed their hypnotic live shows, where their recordings undergo radical transformation. And Martin can promise that your frantic scrabbling for a ticket will be amply rewarded: “We definitely work really hard at it. It's really important to us because a lot of the musicians that we like and respect have also been excellent live musicians and we'd never want it to be a small part of what we do. It's always central to our musical development.”

Hot Chip play the Pet Sounds Arena at T in the Park on Sunday 13 July

DFA Records

If a manager truly believed in his or her own skill, it would stand to reason that they would invest in the funds they manage wouldn’t it? If a fund manager was also an investor in that same fund, it would certainly strengthen their desire to act in the fund investors best interest wouldn’t it?

It turns out that a large number of managers don’t invest in their own funds. According to a recent article published by Morningstar, less than half of the 1066 funds they analyzed in the U.S. had some management ownership. Is this because the vast majority of mutual funds underperform their respective benchmarks, as reported by Standard and Poor’s SPIVA report?

I’m happy to make the following disclosure: I personally invest in the same DFA funds that I recommend to my clients. If I didn’t believe in PWL’s investment philosophy and the DFA funds we use then, in my opinion, I would have no business making the recommendations I do to my clients.

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.Carol Banawa & Bukas Palad

DFA ont définitivement le compas dans l’oeil (Syclops… l’oeil… haaa pis laissez faire!) pour trouver les groupes qui seront capable de nous procurer des excitations auditives.  Et Syclops avec leur album I’ve got my eye on you font partie de cette catégorie.

Il est très difficile de trouver de l’information sur ce groupe qui refuse toute entrevue ou booking.  On sait qu’ils viennent du UK, qu’ils sont 3 dans le band et qu’ils existent depuis 2006.  Pour le reste, une très courte bio est disponible sur leur Myspace.

I’ve got my eye on you sortira le 07 juillet 08 sur DFA.  L’album oscille entre l’electro, l’ambiant, le nujazz & l’experimental.  A écouter lorsqu’on n’arrive pas à dormir et qu’on va faire une balade en pleine nuit avec les écouteurs sur les oreilles.

Syclops - Where's Jason's K (mp3)
[audio=http://basementbeatz.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/06-wheres-jasons-k.mp3]

Syclops – NR17 (mp3)
[audio=http://basementbeatz.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/01-nr17.mp3]

Syclops Myspace
DFA Records Website

Anyway.

There you are, staring blank at your bedroom ceiling, wondering how to deal with tomorrow's plan of getting your coveted NBI clearance. May it be for local work, an official business overseas, off-shore training, an extravagant asian tour, whatever you need it for, I know there's this morbid voice whispering at the back of your head, telling you that the day has arrived..Your DOST scholarship bond just came back to haunt you.

And you've thought it'll all gonna be milk and money, did you?. Tsk Tsk.

I feel you dude..

Buried deep beneath the ashes blazing towards the sky, here's an NBI Clearance walkthrough devised to make your skirmishes along Carriedo toll a bit lighter. Before the encore, let me make some points clear.

# 1. Do not, and I let me emphasize that..Never expect that you can get all this done in one day. If you were a DOST Scholar, that's the price you have to pay.

PunchNote: Unless your in a Luli-like incident, you may ignore this rule.

# 2. Never act or feel that your somewhat MR. Important. Don't plan on using DOST as leverage in getting special treatment. Your DOST Scholarship will not save you from waiting in line, being shouted at, sweating your pants off, inhaling your neighbor's odor, reaking your own odor, and feeling way dissappointed by the gruesome NBI clearance process just like everybody else.

PunchNote: This guide is designed to somehow prevent you from going through unnecessary hassles. However, if you still believe you can fastforward your way in getting the clearance, go Back and read Rule # 1.

If you cant inject the first two rules in your mind, brace yourself for a day of dissapointment. For the open-minded, lets begin by figuring Where the heck is NBI anyway?

Take LRT 1 and remember Carriedo Station as your drop point. That would be the easiest and most familiar way if you're not from around. Once you reach the station, there are two known exits. One is the original LRT exit which is left closed for reasons I cannot explain, and the Mall exit where you'll pass through tiangge shops and pirated CD stalls on your way down. Once on level soil, walk your way towards the Quiapo Direction and look left on the adjacent street.

When you see the building banner on left of the street thats says "NBI CLEARANCE CENTER", Bingo! If you don't have any sense of direction, see the punchnote below.

PunchNote: I'm such a noob here, really, so what I did was buy a stick of cigarette on the sidewalks (even when I still have a pack in my pocket) and asked the vendor politely where the place was. He pointed me right on target, after striking a spark on his worn out zippo, with a smile I quickly went on my way.

As you enter the vicinity, the place will be filled with peddlers and fixers. Here comes the next rule:

#3. You will never need an Income Tax Certificate. Ignore people offering you cedulas, and other form of identification cards. You won't need them. NBI doesn't require them. A Black Pen will be needed though. Have one in your hand throughout the day. With regard to fixers, you won't be needing anything to fix. The clearance process is actually fast by itself.

After going up the first escalator, follow the signboards to arrive at the first level NBI Floor, which is actually at the 3rd floor of the Carriedo Plaza Mall building. Ignore people offering help of any kind, you can do it on your own. Malaki ka na.

On the Main Entrance, there are cashier windows where you will have to pay 20 Pesos for the building' lease and maintenance. Pay it, and see the next rule:

# 4. Always Keep your Receipts! It's not the amount you have paid, but for the agony of waiting through long lines again once you loose it. You will be issued another receipt for the NBI Clearance application. Always keep receipts safely tucked in your gutters.

After getting the 20 Peso Coupon, go inside and you will see booths for STEP 1. Do not Proceed to STEP 1!! Before doing, there's a booth right beside the entrance, where you are to show your 20 peso coupon and claim the NBI Application form.

There will be no other place to get the form, so keep that in mind. Once you get it, quickly line up on "STEP 1:Na Hindi STEP 1" booths and fill out the form while nasa pila ka pa, to be more efficient. No need to go to the "Requirements Filling Area" and waste valuable waiting time. Get your 115 Pesos ready for the NBI Application fee. Once done, they will issue you a receipt. Keep it and proceed to "STEP 2: Formality Lang". Use the stairs to go up.

STEP 2 is actually data check, you will just hand over your application forms for verification whether you have filled out all the personal data correctly in its proper fields or not. Not too shabby here, but its better to make sure anything's in check while still this early. This prevents pains on the next steps to follow. After getting your data checked, go for a quickie.

Which leads us to STEP 3: Quickie daw?

Quick Check.. Sounds harmless? NooooooooooTT!.. This is the STEP where they finally get your oily face shoved with a capital "H.I.T." Enjoy this glorious moment. Linger on the fact that you will again walk the NBI premises sometime soon.

PunchNote: Whats a HIT? It's basically a flag in your NBI database entry confirming that:

1. You either have a namesake with a criminal record, or you actually have a criminal record (Been busy busting some 7-Elevens lately haven't you?).

2. You have some impending records with government offices, legal liabilities and contract obligations. ( Which rings a huge bell) hehe.

At this point, stay calm. There's no reason to be shocked, now that you can see the red "HIT" printed on the back of your receipt. It's not the time to be disheartened, there are two more steps before calling it a day.

STEP 4: Piktyur-Piktyur.

Err, it actually says Image Capture. Nothing much here, just stand at the pole and don't pretend to smile. The image quality's bad anyway, and tamad din magsabi ang photographer ng "Say Cheese". By this time you should be halfway exhausted. After realizing the fact that you won't look good on green or yellow paper, make your way up the next set of stairs.

Step 5. Cafe-Finger

After posing for your winning shot, proceed to the Fingerprinting area. There are a lot of booths here, expect unorganized and looping lines. By the way, here's a good rule:

#5 Be vigilant, observant, and aware of your proximity. Lines spawn out and dissolve quickly around you. May mga Pilang bigla n lng lumalabas, be sure to notice and jump right away. If possible, be stealthy in your movements, mala solid snake, para walang makahalata habang lumilipat ka sa mas maikling pila. Remember, daig ng tusong matsing ang maagap na kuneho( The clever monkey always beats the nimble hare).

PunchNote: Right after fingerprinting, the attendant will offer you tissue papers soaked in alcohol for 2 Pesos. If you don't have hand sanitizers with you, patulan mo na, wag ka na umalma. Its really convenient and does the job well.

Step 6. Registration.

To put it simply, this is where all application forms get sorted out for Releasing or Quality Control. People with no HITs, will proceed to STEP 7 and get the clearance immediately. For people like you, that has a HIT because of DOST, you will have to go back on an appointed date for QUALITY CONTROL Checking, before your clearance can be released, probably some time during the week. Minimum will be 3 days and 4 days the longest. Get your application form registered and listen to further instructions and the date for which you will be coming back. For now, go home, relax and live to fight another day.

By the way, before you go, have a good look at the STEP 7 Releasing booths.

Ahhhhhwww. The one that got away...Everyone's getting their NBI Clearances except sad little you.

This pretty much covers everything on the first day of your NBI Clearance application.

3-4 days of waiting seem not so fun and so I hear. Well, worry not. You have work to do. Time to pay the guys of DOST a visit. You will need to get a temporary clearance notice from them, which you will use to warp-zone your way out of Quality Control!

More details on my next post.

[UPDATE] Here's my post for the DOST Temporary Clearance Letter.

If you're still overheated from the HARD Summer Festival, come cool down with James Murphy and Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem, DFA), Jason Bentley (KCRW) and Destructo (HARD) on Sunday August 10, as HARD presents the Special Disco Version Pool Party at the Roosevelt Hotel's poolside Tropicana Bar in Hollywood. You can get down disco style from noon-6 p.m. and snag your tickets now at Ticketweb.

Pack your floaties, dancing shoes and (optional?) lamé bathing attire, and prepare for enough fun in the sun to hold you over until HARD returns to the Shrine Expo for the HARD Haunted Mansion. The Halloween all-nighter boasts a ghoulishly-diverse lineup of Soulwax, Simian Mobile Disco, Deadmau5, Boys Noize, Crystal Castles and many more to be announced.